University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND. 


MANUSCRIPT  STORY, 


BY 


Rev.  Solomon  Spaulding, 


DECEASED. 


Printed  from  a  Verbatim  Copy,  made  (expressly  for  this  edition) 

from  the  Original,  now  in  the     possession  of 

President  James  H.   Fairchild,    of 

Oberlin  College,  Ohio. 


SALT   LAKE   CITY,    UTAH, 

THE  DESERET  NEWS  COMPANY,  PRINTERS  AND  PUBLISHERS. 
1886. 


ary 


PUBLISHERS'   PREFACE. 


the  last  fifty  years  the  " Manuscript  Found"  has  been 
the  staple  stock  in  trade  of  almost  every  objector  to  the 
genuineness  of  the  Book  of  Mormon.  When  every  other 
imaginable  theory  and  hypothesis  were  overthrown,  this 
reputed  romance  was  the  unfailing  refuge  to  which  they  fled. 
It  could  not  be  found,  so  their  baseless  assertions  could  not 
be  disproved  by  an  appeal  to  itself.  But  unfortunately  for  all 
such  who  make  lies  their  refuge,  this  long-lost  treasure  has, 
at  last,  most  unexpectedly  to  all  parties,  been  brought  to  light, 
and  is  now  given  to  the  world  with  all  its  inanities,  absurd- 
ities and  inaccuracies.  After  carefully  perusing  both  books, 
we  believe  we  can  truthfully  assert  that  there  is  not  one  sen- 
tence, one  incident,  or  one  proper  name  common  to  both,  and 
that  the  oft  boasted  similarity  in  matter  and  nomenclature  is 
utterly  false.  No  two  books  could  be  more  unlike;  in  fact 
Mr.  Spaulding's  "Manuscript  Story"  no  more  resembles  the 
Book  of  Mormon  than  "  Gulliver's  Travels "  is  like  the  Gospel 
of  St.  Matthew. 

The  history  of  the  discovery  of  the  Manuscript  can  be 
told  in  a  few  words.  D.  P.  Hurlbut,  an  apostate,  the  originator 
of  the  fabrication  that  the  Book  of  Mormon  originated  in  Mr. 
Spaulding's  tale,  wrote  a  bitter  assault  on  the  Latter-day 
Saints  in  1836,  entitled  "  Mormonism  Unveiled,"  which  was 
published  in  the  name  of,  and  by  E.  D.  Howe,  of  Painesville, 
Ohio.  During  the  time  Hurlbut  was  gathering  material  for 
this  work,  he  obtained  from  the  family  of  the  then  deceased 
clergyman  the  original  of  the  "Manuscript  Story,"  but  dis- 
covering that  it  would,  if  published,  prove  fatal  to  his  assump- 
tions, he  suppressed  it;  and  from  that  time  it  was  entirely 
lost  sight  of  until  about  two  years  ago,  when  a  Mr.  L.  L.  Rice, 


iv  PUBLISHERS'  PREFACE. 

residing  at  Honolulu,  Sandwich  Islands,  found  it  among  a 
numerous  collection  of  miscellaneous  papers  which  he  had 
received  from  Mr.  Howe,  the  publisher  of  Hurlbut's  "  Mormon- 
ism  Unveiled,"  when  in  1839-40,  he,  with  his  partner,  pur- 
chased from  that  gentleman  the  business,  etc.,  of  the  Painesville 
Telegraph. 

In  1884  President  James  H.  Fairchild,  of  Oberlin  College, 
Ohio,  was  paying  a  visit  to  Mr.  Rice,  and  he  suggested  that 
the  latter  look  through  his  numerous  papers,  in  the  hope  of 
finding  amongst  them  some  anti-slavery  documents  of  value. 
In  his  search  he  discovered  a  package  marked  in  pencil  on 
the  outside,  "  Manuscript  Story — Conneaut  Creek,"  which,  to 
their  surprise,  on  perusal,  proved  to  be  the  veritable,  long-lost 
romance  of  Dr.  Spaulding,  to  which  so  much  undeserved 
importance  had  been  ignorantly  or  maliciously  given.  After 
retaining  the  manuscript  some  time  Mr.  Rice  presented  it  to 
Oberlin  College,  but  before  doing  so,  made  an  exact  copy, 
with  all  its  pecularities  of  style,  errors  of  grammar  and  orthog- 
raphy, alterations,  erasures,  etc.,  which  copy  he  placed  in  our 
hands  with  the  distinct  understanding  that  it  should  be 
printed  and  published  exactly  as  he  had  copied  it. 

We  have  endeavored  to  faithfully  carry  out  our  part  of 
the  agreement,  and  now  present  to  the  world  this  wishy-washy 
production,  with  all  its  peculiarities  of  spelling  and  grammar, 
whose  only  conceivable  value  is  that  it  utterly  dispels  and 
demolishes  a  long  existing  error,  and  compels  those  who  will 
not  acknowledge  the  divinity  of  the  Book  of  Mormon  to  seek 
in  other  directions  plausible  excuses  for  rejecting  its  truths. 

Those  portions  of  the  work  altered  or  erased  by  Mr. 
Spaulding  have,  in  the  following  pages,  been  printed  in  italics 
and  between  brackets. 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 


MANUSCRIPT   STORY. 


•  INTRODUCTION 

Near  the  west  Bank  of  the  Coneaught  River  there  are 
the  remains  of  an  ancient  fort.  As  I  was  walking  and 
forming  various  conjectures  respecting  the  character  situation 
and  numbers  of  those  people  who  far  exceeded  the  present  race 
of  Indians  in  works  of  art  &  inginuety  I  hapned  to  tread  on  a 
flat  Stone.  This  was  at  a  small  distance  from  the  fort :  &  it 
lay  on  the  top  of  a  small  mound  of  Earth  exactly  horizontal — 
The  face  of  it  had  a  singular  appearance  I  discovered  a 
number  of  characters  which  appeared  to  me  to  be  letters — but 
so  much  effaced  by  the  ravages  of  time,  that  I  could  not  read 
the  inscription.  With  the  assistance  of  a  leaver  I  raised  the 
Stone — But  you  may  easily  conjecture  my  astonishment  when 
I  discovered  that  its  ends  and  sides  rested  on  Stones  &  that  it 
was  designed  as  a  cover  to  an  artificial  cave. — I  found  on  ex- 
amining that  its  Sides  were  lined  with  *  *  *  built  in  a 
connical  form  with  *  *  *  down — &  that  it  was  about 
eight  feet  deep — Determined  to  investigate  the  design  of  this 
extraordinary  work  of  antiquity — I  prepared  myself  with 
necessary  requisites  for  that  purpose  and  decended  to  the 
Bottom  of  the  cave — Observing  one  side  to  be  perpendicular 


2  THE 

nearly  three  feet  from  the  bottom,  I  began  to  inspect  that  part 
with  accuracy ;  Here  I  noticed  a  big  flat  Stone  fixed  in  the 
form  of  a  doar,  I  immediately  tore  it  down  &  Lo  a  cavity 
within  the  wall  presented  itself — it  being  about  three  feet  in 
diameter  from  side  to  side  and  about  two  feet  high  Within 
this  cavity  I  found  an  earthan  Box  with  a  cover  which  shut  it 
perfectly  tite — The  Box  was  two  feet  in  length  one  &  half  in 
breadth  &  one  and  three  inches  in  diameter.  My  mind  filled 
with  awful  sensations  which  crowded  fast  upon  me  would 
hardly  permit  my  hands  to  remove  this  venerable  deposit  but 
curiosity  soon  gained  the  ascendancy  &  the  box  was  taken  & 
raised  to  open  *  *  *  When  I  had  removed  the  cover  I 
found  that  it  contained  twenty  eight  sheets  of  parchment.  & 
that  when  ******  appeared  to  be  manuscripts 
written  in  an  eligant  hand  with  Roman  Letters  &  in  the  Latin 
Language 

They  were  written  on  a  variety  of  Subjects.  But  the  Roll 
which  principally  attracted  my  attention  contained  a  history 
of  the  authors  life  &  that  part  of  America  which  extends  along 
tho  great  Lakes  &  the  waters  of  the  Missisippy. 

Extracts  of  the  most  interesting  and  important  matters 

contined  in'  this  Roll  I  take  the  liberty  to  publish 

[Gentle  Reader  tread  lightly  on  the  ashes  of  the  venerable  dead 
—  Thou  must  know  that  this  Country  was  once  inhabited  by 'great 
&  powerful  nations  considerably  civilized  &  skilled  in  the  arts  of 
ivar,  and  that  on  ground  where  thou  now  treadest  many  [o.n  hard 
fou]  a  bloody  Battle  hath  been  f aught— &  heroes  by  the  thousand 
[have  been"]  made  to  bite  the  dust. 

In  the  history  given  of  these  nations  by  my  Author  you  will 
find  nothing  but  what  will  correspond  with  the  natural  sentiments 
ir  '.  should  form  on  viewing  the  innumerable  remains  of  Antiquity 
which  are  scattered  over  an  extensive  Country.  This  is  an  evidence 
of  the  authors  impartiality  and  veracity.  But  if  any  should  pre- 
tend that  the  whole  story  is  fictitious  or  fabulous^ 

To  publish  a  translation  of  every  particular  circumstance 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 


mentioned  by  our  author  would  produce  a  volume  too  ex- 
pensive for  the  general  class  of  readers.  But  should  this 
attempt  to  throw  off  the  vail  which  has  secluded  our  view 
from  the  transactions  of  nations  who,  for  ages  have  been 
extinct,  meet  the  approbation  of  the  public,  I  shall  then  be  happy 
to  gratify  the  more  inquisitive  &  learned  part  of  my  readers 
by  a  more  minute  publication.  Apprehensive  that  sceptical, 
illiberal  or  supersticious  minds  may  ceDSure  this  performance 
with  great  accrimony  I  have  only  to  remark  that  they  will 
be  deprived  of  a  great  fund  of  entertainment  which  those  of  a 
contrary  disposition  will  obtain.  My  compassion  will  be 
excited  more  than  my  resentment  and  there  the  contest  will 
end. 

Now  Gentle  Header  the  Translator  who  wishes  well  to 
thy  present  &  thy  future  existence  entreats  the  to  peruse  this 
volume  with  a  clear  head  a  pure  heart  &  a  candid  mind — If 
thou  shalt  that  thy  head  &  thy  heart  are  both  improved  it 
will  afford  him  more  satisfaction  than  the  approbation  of  ten 
thousand  who  have  received  no  benefit. 

[-4?wZ  now  permit  me  to  admonish  thee  that  if  thou  shouldst 
reside  in  or  travel  thro'  any  part  of  the  Country^ 


CHAPT    I 

An  Epitomy  of  the  Authors  life  &  of  his  arival  in  America 

As  it  is  possible  that  in  some  future  age  this  part  of  the 
Earth   will   be   inhabited  by  Europians  &   a   history    of  its 
present    inhabitants   will   be   a   valuable   acquisition   I   pro- 
pose to  write  one  &  deposit  it  in  a  box  secured     *     * 
so  that  the  ravages  of  time  will  have  effect  upon  it.     That  you 


may  know  the  Author  I  will  give  a  succint  account  of  his  life 
&  of  the  cause  of  his  arival — which  I  have  extracted  from  a 
manuscript  which  will  be  deposited  with  this  history : 

\_My  name  was  [is]  Fabius]  The  family  name  I  sustain 
is  Fabius,  being  decended  from  the  illustrius  General  of  that 
name — I  was  born  at  Rome  and.  received  my  [tuition] 
education  under  the  tuition  of  a  very  learned  Master — At 
the  time  that  Constantine  arived  at  that  city  &  had  overcome 
his  enimies  &  was  firmly  seated  on  the  throne  of  the 
Roman  empire  I  was  introduced  to  him  as  a  young  Gentle- 
man [litera]  genius  &  learning  and  as  being  worthy  of 
the  favourable  notice  of  his  imperial  majisty — He  gave  me  the 
appointment  of  one  of  his  Secritaries,  and  such  were  the 
gracious  intimations  which  he  frequently  gave  me  of  his 
high  approbation  of  my  conduct  that  I  was  happy  in  my 
stations.  One  day  he  says  to  me — Fabius  you  must  go 
to  Brittain  and  carry  an  important  *  *  *  *  to  the 
general  of  our  army  there  *  *  *  *  sail  in  a  vessel  and 
return  when  she  returns  Preparation  was  made  instantly  and 
we  sailed — The  vessel  laden  with  provisions  for  the  army — 
cloathing,  knives  and  other  impliments  for  their  use  had  now 
arived  near  the  coasts  of  Britan  when  a  tremendous  storm 
arose  &  drove  us  into  the  midst  of  the  boundless  Ocean. 
Soon  the  whole  crew  became  lost  &  bewildered — They  knew 
not  the  direction  to  the  rising  Sun  or  polar  Star — for  the 
heavens  were  covered  with  clouds;  &  darkness  had  spread  her 
sable  mantle  over  the  face  of  the  raging  deep.  Their  minds 
were  filled  with  consternation  «&  dispair — [and  unaimously  agreed 
thai]  What  could  we  do?  How  be  extrecated  from  the  insa- 
tiable jaws .  of  a  watry  tomb.  Then  it  was  that  we  felt  our 
absolute  dependence  on  that  Almighty  &  gracious  Being  who 
holds  the  winds  and  storms  in  his  hands — From  him  alone 
could  we  expect  deliverance.  To  him  our  most  fervent 
desires  ascended — prostrate  &  on  bended  nees  we  poured  forth 
incessant  supplications,  &  even  Old  Ocean  appeared  to  sym- 


pathize  in  our  distress  by  returning  the  echo  of  our  vociforos 
cries  &  lamentations — After  being  driven  five  days  with 
incridable  velocity  before  the  furious  wind,  the  storm  abated 
in  its  violance — but  still  the  wind  blew  strong  in  the  same 
direction — Doubt  whether  the  wind  had  not  changed  her 
point  we  gave  the  ship  full  sail  &  let  her  drive — On  the  sixth 
day  after,  the  storm  wholly  subsided,  the  sun  rose  clear  &  the 
heavens  once  more  appeard  to  smile — Inexpressible  was  the 
consternation  of  all  the  crew,  they  found  themselves  in  the 
midst  of  a  vast  Ocean  No  prospect  of  returning — all  was  lost 
— The  wind  blowing  west  war  dly  &  the  presumption  was  that 
it  had  been  blowing,  in  that  direction  during  the  whole  of  the 
storm.  No  pen  can  paint  the  dolorious  cries  &  lamenta- 
tions of  the  poor  mariners — for  the  loss  of  friends  for  the  loss 
of  every  thing  they  held  most  dear.  At  length  a  Mariner 
stept  forward  in  the  midst  &  proclaimed.  Attend  0  friends  & 
listen  to  my  words — A  voice  from  on  high  hath  penetrated 
my  soul  &  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty  hath  bid  me  pro- 
claim— Let  your  sails  be  wide  spread  and  the  gentle  winds 
will  soon  waft  you  into  a  safe  harbor — A  country  where  you 
will  find  hospitality. — Quick  as  the  lightnings  flash  joy 
sparkled  in  every  countenance — A  Hymn  of  Thanksgiving 
spontaniously  bust  forth  from  their  lips — In  full  confidence 
that  the  divine  prediction  would  be  accomplished  they  extoled 
the  loving-kindness  and  tender  mercies  of  their  God  &  pro- 
mised, by  the  assistance  of  his  grace  to  make  ample  returns  of 
gratitude.  On  the  fifth  day  after  this  we  came  in  sight  of 
Land — we  entered  a  spacious  River — &  continued  sailing  up 
the  same  many  leages  until  we  came  in  view  of.  a  Town — 
Every  heart  now  palpitated  with  joy — &  loud  shouts  of  glad- 
ness expressed  the  enthusiastic  transports  of  our  souls.  We 
anchored  within  a  small  distance  from  shore — Immediately 
the  natives  ran  with  apparent  signs  of  surprise  &  astonish, 
ment,  to  the  bank  of  the  River — After  viewing  us  foj^some 
time,  and  receiving  signs  of  Friendship — they  appeard  to  hold 


6  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

•&  counsel  for  a  few  a  few  minutes — Their  King  then  stept  for- 
ward to  the  edge  of  the  bank — &  proffered  us  the  hand  of 
friendship — &  by  significant  gestures  invited  us  to  Land 
promising  us  protection  &  hospitality.  We  now  found  ourselves 
*once  more  on  terra  firma — &  were  conducted  by  the  King  & 
ifbur  cheifs  into  the  town  whilst  the  multitude  followed  after, 
shouting  and  peforming  many  odd  jesticulations — The  King 
ordered  an  entertainment  to  be  prepared  for  his  new  friends 
which  consisted  of  *  *  *  *  meat  fish,  boiled  beans  & 
samp  *******  rpjie  whoie  was  placed  under  a 
wide  spreading  Oak  in  wooden  dishes — A  large  clam  shell  &  a 
stone  Knife  were  provided  for  each  one  The  King  then  came 
forward  with  about  twenty  of  his  principal  subjects — &  seated 
us,  (being  twenty  in  number)  by  the  side  of  our  repast — He 
and  his  company  then  took  seats  in  front.  After  waving  his 
hand  &  bowing  all  fell  to  eating  and  a  more  delicious  repast  we 
never  enjoyed — The  repast  being  finished  our  attention  was 
called  to  a  collection  of  about  One  thousand  men  and  women 
who  had  formed  a  ring  and  invited  our  company  to  come  for- 
ward into  the  midst — after  gazing  upon  us  for  some  time  with 
surprize  we  were  permitted  to  withdraw  and  to  take  our  stand 
in  the  Ring — About  forty  in  number  then  walked  into  the 
midle  of  the  Ring  &  began  a  song  with  such  discordant  and 
hedious  modifications  of  sounds  and  such  frantic  jesticulations 
of  body,  that  it  seemed  that  chaos  had  bro't  her  furies  to  set 
the  world  in  an  uproar — And  an  uproar  it  was  in  a  short  time 
for  the  whole  company  fell  to  shouting,  &  screaming,  whooping, 
&  screaming  \at  entervals] — then  dancing,  jumping  &  tumbling 
with  many  indisdiscrible  distortions  in  their  countenance  & 
indelicate  jestures — In  fact  they  appeared  more  like  a  company 
of  devils  than  human  Beings.  This  lasted  about  one  hour — 
They  then  took  their  places  in  a  circle  &  at  a  signal  given  gave 
three  most  tremendous  whoops;  they  then  instantly  dispersed? 
playing  many  an  tike  capers — &  making  such  a  confused 
medly  of  sound  by  skreaming,  whooping  screaching  like  owls. 


THE 


Barking  like  dogs  &  wolvs  &  croaking  like  Bull  frogs,  that 
my  brains  seemed  to  be  turned  topse  turvy — &  for  some  time 
could  scarce  believe  that  they  belonged  to  the  human  species. 


CHAPT.    II 

An  account  of  the  settlement  of  the  Ships  Company — [and  many  particulars 
respecting  the  natives] 

As  no  alternative  now  remained,  but  either  to  make  the 
desparate  attempt  to  return  across  the  wide  boistrous  ocean  or 
to  take  up  our  residence  in  a  country  inhabited  by  savages  & 
wild  ferocious  beasts  we  did  not  long  hesitate.  We  held  a 
solem  treaty  with  the  king  &  all  the  chiefs  of  his  nation. — 
They  agreed  to  cede  to  us  a  tract  of  excellent  Land  on  the 
north  part  of  the  town  on  which  was  six  wigwams,  &  engaged' 
perpetual  amity  &  hospitality  &  the  protection  of  our  lives  & 
property. — In  consideration  of  this  grant  we  gave  them  fifty 
yards  of  scarlet  cloth  &  fifty  knives;  with  this  present  they 
were  highly  pleased. 

Arrangements  must  now  be  made  for  our  settlement. 
Vessel  &  cargo  had  suffered  no  material  damage,  &  by  striping 
the  vessel  of  its  plank  we  could  erect  a  house  in  which  we 
could  deposite  the  whole  cargo  safety — All  hands  were 
immediatly  employed  some  in  procuring  timber,  which  was 
hued  on  two  sides  &  then  locked  together,  some  in  procuring 
shingles  &  some  in  striping  the  vessel  of  its  plank;  &  having 
a  large  quantity  of  nails  on  board,  in  ten  days  we  finished  a 
very  convenient  storehouse,  sufficiently  spacious  to  receive  the 
whole  cargo.  We  also  built  a  [small]  house  adjoining  which 
was  to  be  the  habitation  of  the  Captain  and  myself — Having 
secured  all  our  property  we  then  found  it  necessary  to  estab- 


8  THE 

lish  some  regulations  for  the  goverment  of  our  little  society. 
— The  Captain  whose  name  was  Luian  and  myself  were 
appointed  judges  in  all  matters  of  controversy  &  manages  of  the 
public  property,  to  make  bargains  with  the  natives  &  barter 
such  articles  as  we  did  not  need  for  necessaries. — As  we  all 
professed  to  believe  in  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  we 
unanimously  chose  Trojanus  the  mate  of  the  Ship,  a  pious  good 
man,  to  be  our  minister,  to  lead  our  devotions  morning  & 
evening  &  on  the  Lords  day. — 

But  now  a  most  singular  &  delicate  subject  presented 
itself  for  consideration.  Seven  young  women  we  had  on 
board,  as  passengers,  to  visit  certain  friends  they  had  in 
Britain — Three  of  them  were  ladies  of  rank,  and  the  rest  were 
healthy  bucksom  Lasses. — Whilst  deliberarating  oiithis  subject 
a  mariner  arose  whom  we  called  droll  Tom — Hark  ye  ship- 
mates says  he,  Whilst  tossed  on  the  foming  billows  what  brave 
son  of  neptune  had  any  more  regard  for  a  woman  than  a 
sturgeon,  but  now  we  are  all  safely  anchored  on  Terra  firma — 
our  sails  furled  &  ship  keeled  up,  I  have  a  huge  longing  for 
some  of  tho^e  rosy  dames — But  willing  to  take  my  chance 
with  my  shipmates— I  propose  that  they  should  make  their 
choise  of  husbands.  The  plan  was  instantly  adopted.  As  the 
choie  fell  on  the  young  women  they  held  a  consultation  on 
the  subject.  &  in  a  short  time  made  known  the  result — Droll 
Tom  was  rewarded  for  his  benevolent  proposal  with  one  of  the 
most  sprightly  rosy  dames  in  the  company. — Three  other  of 
the  most  cheerful  resolute  mariners  were  chosen  by  the  other 
three  buxhum  Lasses — The  three  young  Ladies  [of  rank]  fixed 
their  choise  on  the  Captain  the  mate  &  myself.  [Happy 
indeed  in  my  partner  I  had  formed  an  high  esteem  for  the  excellent 
qualities  of  her  mind]  The  young  Lady  who  chose  me  for  a 
partner  was  possessed  of  every  attractive  charm  both  of  body 
&  mind — We  united  heart  &  hand  with  the  fairest  prospect  of 
enjoying  every  delight  &  satisfaction  which  are  attendant  on 
the  connubial  State.  Thus  ended  the  affair.  You  may  well 


9 

conceive  our  singular  situation.  The  six  poor  fellows  who 
were  doomed  to  live  in  a  state  of  Cebicy  or  accept  of  savage 
dames,  discovered  a  little  chagrine  &  anxeity — However  they 
consoled  themselves  with  the  idea  of  living  in  families  where 
they  could  enjoy  the  company  of  the  fair  sex  &  be  releived 
from  the  work  which  belongs  to  the  department  of  Women. — 
Our  community  might  be  said  to  be  one  family  tho  we  lived 
in  seperate  houses,  situate  near  each  other.  The  property  was 
common  stock — what  was  produced  by  our  labour  was  like- 
wise to  be  common,  all  subject  to  the  distribution  of  the 
judges  who  were  to  attend  to  each  family  &  see  that  propper 
industry  and  econimy  were  practised  by  all. — 

The  Capt.  &  myself,  attended  with  our  fair  Partners  & 
two  mariners  repaired  to  a  new  habitation  which  consisted  of 
two  convenient  appartments.  After  having  partook  of  an 
elligant  Dinner  &  drank  a  bottle  of  excellent  wine  our  spirits 
were  exhilerated  &  the  deep  gloom  which  beclouded  our  minds 
evaporated.  The  Capt.  assuming  his  wonted  chearful- 
ness  made  the  following  address  My  sweet  good  soald 
fellows  we  have  now  commenced  a  new  voige — Not  such  as 
brot  us  over  mountain  billows  to  this  butt  end  of  the  world — 
No,  no,  our  voyge  is  on  dry  land  —  &  now  we  must  take  care 
that  we  have  sufficient  ballast  for  the  riging — every  hand  on 
hoard  this  ship  must  clasp  hands  &  condecend  to  each  others 
humour,  this  will  pro-good  cheer  and  smooth  the  raging 
billows  of  life.  Surrounded  by  innumerable  hords  of  human 
beings,  who  resemble  in  manners  the  Ourang  Outang — let  us 
keep  aloof  from  them  &  not  embark  in  the  same  matrimonial 
ship  [with  them] — At  the  same  time  we  will .  treat  them  with 
good  cheer — &  inlighten  their  dark  souls  with  good  instruction 
— By  continuing  a  distinct  people  &  preserving  our  customs 
manners,  religion  &  arts  and  sciences  another  Italy  will  grow 
up  in  this  wilderness  &  we  shall  be  celebrated  as  the  fathers  of 
a  great  &  happy  nation. — May  God  bless  your  soul,  says  one  of 
our  mariners,  what  would  you  have  us  do  who  have  had  the 


10 

woful  luck  not  to  get  mates  to  cheer  our  poor  souls  &  warm 
our  bodies,  methinks  I  could  pick  out  a  healthy  plum  Lass 
from  the  copper  coulered  tribe  that  by  washing  arid  scrubing 
her  fore  &  aft  &  upon  the  labbord  &  stabbord  sides  she  would 
become  a  wholsome  bedfellow— &  I  think  may  it  please  your 
honour  I  could  gradually  pump  my  notions  into  her  head  & 
make  her  a  good  shipmat  for  the  cupboard  &  as  good  hearted 
a  Christian  as  any  of  your  white  damsels. — &  upon  my  soul— 
I  warrant  you  if  we  have  children,  by  feeding  them  with  good 
fare  &  keeping  them  clean  they  will  be  as  plump  &  as  fair  & 
nearly  as  white  as  your  honors  children. —  Upon  this  I  filled 
the  bottle  with  wine  &  observing  to  honest  Crito  that  he  was 
at  liberty  to  make  the  experiment  if  he  could  find  a  fair 
*  *  *  *  to  his  liking — I  then  expressed  the  great 
pleasure  I  received  from  the  addresses  of  the  speakers. 
&  drank  success  to  the  new  voige — All  drank  plentifully 
&  the  exhileration  produced  the  greatest  cheerfulness  & 
hilarity. — By  this  time  the  sun  had  hid  his  head  below  the 
horizon  &  darkness  invited  all  the  animal  creation  to  sleep  & 
rest.  We  retired  two  &  two  hand  in  hand— Ladies  heads  little 

awri — blushing  like  the  morn  & But  I  forgot  to  mention 

that  our  society  passed  a  resolution  to  build  a  church  in  the 
midst  of  our  village. 


CHAP.     Ill 

Many  particulars  respecting  the  Natives 

Intrest  as  well  as  curiosity  invited  an  acquaintance  with 
our  new  neighbours — They  were  called  in  their  language 
Deliwares.  They  were  tall — bodies  well  proportioned,  strait 
limbs,  complections  of  a  brownish  hue — broad  cheek  bones, 
black  wild  roling  eyes, — &  hair  black  &  course.  To  strangers 


11 

they  were  hospitable — true  to  their  engagements,  ardent 
in  their  friendship,  but  to  enemies  implacable  cruel  & 
barbarous  in  the  extreme. — Innumerable  hords  of  this  dis- 
cription  of  people  were  scattered  over  an  extensive  country, 
who  gained  their  living  by  hunting  the  elk,  the  dear  &  a  great 
variety  of  other  wild  animals — by  fishing  &  fowling  &  by  rais- 
ing corn,  beans  &  squashes. — Shooting  the  arrow  slinging 
stones,  wrestling,  jumping,  hoping  &  runing  were  their  prin- 
cipal amusements — &  prizes  would  often  be  staked  as  a  reward 
to  the  conqueror. — Their  cloathing  consisted  of  skins  dressed 
with  the  hair  on — but  in  warm  weather,  only  the  middle  part 
of  their  bodies  were  incumbered  with  any  covering — The  one 
half  of  the  head  of  the  men  was  shaved  &  painted  with  red — 
&  the  one  half  of  the  face  was  painted  with  black.  The  head 
was  adorned  with  feathers  of  various  kinds — &  their  ears  & 
noses  were  ornimented  with  rings,  formed  from  the  sinues  of 
certain  animals,  on  which  were  suspended  smooth  stones  of  dif- 
ferent coulars.  Thus  cloathed,  thus  painted,  thus  ornimented 
the  Deliwares  made  a  most  terrefic  appearance — They  held 
festivals  at  stated  times,  which  varied  in  the  manner  of  con- 
ducting them,  according  to  the  object  they  had  in  view — At 
one  of  their  annual  festivals  their  cerimonies  were  peculiarly 
singular  &  different  from  any  that  were  ever  practised  by  any 
nation — Here  a  description  would  give  us  some  idea  of  their 
religion  &  would  gratify  the  curiosity  of  an  ingenious  mind. 

When  .the  time  arives — which  is  in  September,  the  whole 
tribe  assemble — They  are  dressed  &  ornimented  in  the  higest 
fashion — The  women  in  particular  have  their  garments  & 
heads  so  adorned  with  feathers  shells  &  wampum  that  they 
make  a  very  brilliant  &  grotesque  appearance. —  —  They  form  a 
circle — their  countinances  are  solemn.  A  Speaker  mounts  a 
stage  in  the  midst.  At  this  moment  two  Black  Dogs  led  by 
two  Boys — &  two  White  Dogs  led  by  two  young  damsels  enter 
the  circle  and  are  tied  together  The  Speaker  then  extended  his 
hands  &  spoke  Hail  ye  favorite  children  of  the  great  &  good 


12 

Spirit,  who  resides  in  the  Sun,  who  is  the  father  of  all  living 
creatures  &  whose  arms  incircle  us  all  around — who  defends 
us  from  the  malicious  designs  of  that  great  malignant  Spirit 
that  pours  upon  us  all  the  evils  we  endure  he  gives  us  all  our 
meat  &  our  fish — &  causes  the  corn  &  the  fruits  to  spring  up 
&  makes  us  to  rejoice  in  his  goodness.  He  hath  prepared  a 
delightful  country  to  receive  us — if  we  are  valiant  in  battle 
or  are  benevolent  &  good — There  we  can  pick  all  kinds  of 
delicious  fruit  &  have  game  &  fish  in  abundance  &  our 
women  being  improved  in  beuty  &  sprighliness  will  cause 
our  hearts  to  dance  with  delight — But  wo  unto  you  wicked, 
malicious,  mischevous  mortals — your  lot  will  be  cast  in  a  dark 
mirey  swamp — where  the  malignant  Spirit  will  torment  you 
with  musquetoes  &  serpents  &  will  give  you  nothing  to  eat 
but  toads,  frogs  &  snails. — But  0  my  dear  friends — all  hail — 
here  is  a  custom  which  is  sanctioned  by  time  immemorial 
— Look  steadfastly  on  the  black  dogs  &  let  not  your  eyes  be 
turned  away — when  they  are  thrown  on  the  sacred  pile  &  the 
flames  are  furiously  consuming  their  bodies — then  let  your 
earnest  prayers  assend  for  pardon  &  your  transgressions  will 
flee  away  like  shadows  &  your  sins  will  be  carried  by  the 
smoke  into  the  shadows  of  oblivion — When  this  solemn  expa- 
tory  sacrifice  is  ended  then  prepare  your  souls  to  partake  of 
the  holy  festival — Each  one  will  receive  a  precious  morsel 
from  these  immaculate  snow  coulered  Dogs  in  token  that  your 
offences  have  all  evaporated  in  the  smoke  of  the  holy 
sacrifice,  &  that  you  are  thankful  to  the  benevolent  Spirit  for 
the  abundance  of  good  things  that  you  enjoy — &  that  you 
humbly  anticipate  the  continuance  of  his  blessings  &  that  he 
will  defend  you  against  the  evil  designs  of  that  malignant 
Spirit,  who  gives  us  gawl  &  wormwood,  &  fills  our  bosoms 
with  pain  &  our  eyes  with  tears.  He  then  proclaimed,  let  the 
sacred  pile  be  erected  &  the  solemn  sacrifice  performed. 
Instantly  about  one  hundred  men  came  forward  with  small 
dry  wood  &  bundles  of  dry  sticks  &  having  thrown  them  in 


13 

one  pile  within  the  circle — they  sat  the  pile  on  fire — The  black 
dogs  were  knocked  on  the  head  &  thrown  on  the  top — in  a 
moment  all  was  in  a  blaze  &  the  flame  assended  in  curls  to 
heaven.  The  whole  company  assumed  the  most  devout 
attitude  &  muttered  in  sounds  almost  inarticulate  their 
humble  confessions  &  ernest  requests — 

When  the  dogs  were  consumed  &  the  fire  nearly  extin- 
guished, the  cerimonies  of  their  sacred  festival  began — the 
white  dogs  which  were  very  plump  &  fat,  were  knocked  on 
the  head  &  their  throats  cut.  Their  hair  was  then  singed  off, 
having  first  their  entrails  taken  out — &  being  suspended  by 
the  nose  before  a  hot  fire  they  were  soon  roasted — thrown 
upon  a  long  Table  &  desected  into  as  many  pieces  as  there 
were  persons  to  swallow  them — The  company  immediately 
formed  a  procession,  one  rank  of  men,  the  other  of  women — 
the  men  marching  to  the  left  &  the  women  to  the  right  of  the 
Table  each  one  took  a  piece  &  devoured  it  with  as  good  a  * 
*  *  *  as  if  it  had  been  the  most  delicious  morsel.  Having 
completed  these  sacred  cerimonies  with  great  solemnity — the 
whole  company  formed  themselves  into  a  compact  circle 
round  the  stage — ten  musitians  immediately  mounted  &  at 
once,  the  multitude  on  every  side  sang  a  song — The  tune  & 
the  musical  voices  of  the  singers  pleased  the  ear,  whilst  the 
immagination  was  delighted  with  the  poetic  inginuety  of  the 
composition — The  multitude  all  joined  in  the  chorus,  with 
voices  so  loud  &  multifarious  that  the  atmosphere  quaked 
with  terror — &  the  woods  and  neighboring  hills  [sent  back']  by 
way  of  mockery — sent  back  the  sound  of  their  voices  improved 
by  tenfold  confusions.  Perhaps,  reader,  you  have  the  curiosity 
to  hear  the  song — I  can  give  you  only  the  last  stanzy  &  the 
chorus. 

'  For  ua  the  sun  emits  his  rais 
'  The  moon  shines  forth  for  our  delight 
'  The  stars  extol  our  heroes  prais 
'  And  warriors  flee  before  our  light. 


14  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

CHORUS 

'  Delawan  to  chakee  poloo 
'  Manegango  farwah  teloo 
'  Chanepauh,  lawango  chapah 
'  Qtiinebogan  bamboo  gowah. 

The  solemnities  are  ended  &  in  their  opinion  their  poor 
soiils  are  compleatly  whitewashed — &  every  stain  entirely 
effaced.  A  little  diversion  will  now  dissipate  the  solemnity  & 
inspire  them  with  cheerfulness  &  merriment. 

The  whole  tribe  repair  to  the  top  of  an  hill,  at  one  place 
their  is  a  gradual  slope  a  small  distance  &  then  it  decends 
about  twenty  five  feet  in  an  almost  perpendicular  direction,  at 
the  bottom  of  which  is  a  quagmire,  which  is  about  ten  feet  in 
length  &  the  soft  mud  is  about  three  feet  deep — at  each  end 
the  ground  is  soft  but  not  miry — Down  this  declivity  twenty 
pair  of  very  suple  &  sprightly  young  men  &  women  are  to 
decend,  If  by  their  agility  &  dexterity  they  escape  the 
quagmire — a  piece  of  wampum  will  be  the  reward  of  each 
fortunate  champion — but  if  they  plunge  in,  their,  their  recom- 
pence  will  be  the  ridecule  &  laughter  of  the  multitude 

In  making  this  decent,  six  young  women  &  five  young 
men  by  a  surprising  dexterity  in  whirling  their  bodies  as  they 
decended  cleared  themselves  from  the  quagmire — The  rest  as 
their  turns  came  plunged  in  &  came  out  most  wofully  muded 
to  the  great  diversion  of  the  spectators.  The  incident  which 
excited  the  most  merriment  hapned  when  the  last  party 
decended.  by  an  unlucky  spring  to  clear  himself  from  the 
quagmire  he  bro't  his  body  along  side  of  the  declevity  &  roled 
his  whole  length  into  the  midst  of  the  quagmire  where  he  lay 
[his  whole  length  in  an  horizontal  position  on  his  bade] — neither 
heels  up  or  .head  up,  but  horizontally — .-soft  &  easy— but  alas 
when  one  unlucky  event  happens  another  follows  close  on  the 
heals. — the  fair,  [plump]  corpulent  Damsel,  his  affectionate 
sweetheart  came  instantly,  sliding  with  great  velocity — She  saw 
the  woful  position  of  her  beloved — She  wished  him  no  harm 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  15 

— She  raised  her  feet  this  bro't  the  center  of  gravity  directly 
over  the  center  of  his  head — here  she  rested  a  moment — his 
head  sunk — she  sunk  after  him  his  heels  kicked  against  the 
wind  like  leshuran  waked  fat — but  not  a  word  from  his  lips — 
but  his  ideas  came  in  quick  succession — tho't  he,  what  a 
disgrace  to  die  here  in  the  mud  under  the  pressure  of  my 
sweet  heart — however  his  time  for  such  reflections,  were  short — 
the  tender  hearted  maid  collecting  all  her  agility  in  one  effort 
dismounted  and  found  herself  on  dry  land  in  an  instant — not 
a  moment  to  be  lost;  she  seized  her  lover  by  one  leg  &  draged 
him  from  the  mud — a  curious  figure,  extending  about  six  feet 
six  inches  on  the  ground, — all  bismeared  from  head  to  foot, 
spiting, — puffing,  panting  &  strugling  for  breath — Poor  man. 
the  whole  multitude  laughing  at  thy  calamity,  shouting, 
rediculing — none  to  give  thee  cbnsolatioii  but  thy  loving  & 
simpithetec  partner  [in  misfortune —  Upon  my  soul,  exclaims  droll 
Tom — stemfermost — that  bouncing  Lass  ought  to  have  the  highest 
prize  for  draging  her  ship  from  the  mud~\ — She  was  cleaning 
the  filth  from  his  face.  — 


CHAP    IV. 

A  journey  to  the  N  W.  &  [removal.] 

Gracious  God!  how  deplorable  our  situation!  are  we 
doomed  to  dwell  among  hords  of  savages — &  be  deprived  of  all 
social  intercourse  with  friends  &  the  civilized  world?  &  what 
will  be  the  situation  of  our  offspring?  will  they  preserve  our 
customs  &  manners,  cultivate  the  arts  &  sciences  &  maintain 
our  holy  religion  or  [rather']  will  they  not  rather  degenerate 
into  savages  &  by  mingling  with  them  become  the  most  * 
*  *  *  *  race  of  beings  in  existence — Who  can  indure 
such  reflections,  such  heart-rending  anticipations? — they  pour 


16  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

upon  my  soul  like  a  flood  and  bear  me  down  with  the  weight  of 
a  milstone.  0  that  my  head  were  waters  &  my  eyes  a  fountain 
of  tears — then  my  intolerable  burthen  should  be  poured  forth 
in  a  torrent  &  my  soul  set  at  liberty.  But  behold  the  light 
springs  up  &  beams  upon  my  soul.  She  brings  in  her  train 
Hope— that  celestial  Godes,  that  sure  &  strong  anchor — that 
dispencer  of  comfort  &  pleasing  anticipation — &  that  dispeller 
of  coroding  grief  &  black  dispair — She  bids  me  review  the 
exploded  reasning  of  a  great  philosopher  &  compair  it  with  my 
own  observations — perhaps  the  result  will  point  out  a  safe  road 
to  the  land  of  our  nativity. 

Thus  I  reasoned  respecting  the  solar  system,  of  which  the 
earth  is  a  part.  Provided  the  earth  is  stationary,  according  to  the 
present  system  of  philosophy — then  the  sun,  the  moon  &  the 
plannets,  being  at  an  immense  distance  from  the  earth — must 
perform  their  revolutions  round  her  with  inceivable  velocity — 
whereas,  if  according  to  the  Platonic  system,  the  earth  is  a 
globe — &  the  sun  is  stationary  then  the  earth  by  a  moderate  vel- 
ocity can  perform  her  revolutions — This  scheme  will  represent 
the  solar  system  as  displaying  the  transcendant  wisdom  of  its 
almighty  Architect — for  in  this,  we  behold  the  Sun  suspended 
by  omnipotence  &  all  the  planents  moving  round  him  as  their 
common  center  in  exact  order  &  harmony — In  this  we  can 
easily  account  for  days  &  nights  &  the  different  seasons  of  the 
year, — When  the  earth  presents  one  part  of  her  face  to  the 
sun  it  is  day— When  that  part  is  turned  from  his  beams  it  is 
night — When  she  varies  to  the  south  the  sun  shines  upon  us 
in  a  more  perpendicular  direction — the  suns  beams  become 
more  dence  &  the  heat  increases — as  she  returns  back  the  heat 
decreases  in  proportion  as  this  part  of  earth  looses  its  perpen- 
dicular direction  to  the  sun  &  the  cold  becomes  more  intence 
in  the  same  proportion. — This  accounts  for  the  various  seasons 
of  the  year,  appears  correct  and  consistent  &  highly  honourable 
to  the  divine  perfections. 

[But  behold  tJie  other  system — The  Earth  firmly  fixed  on  a 


17 

firm  foundation — perhaps  as  some  on  a  giants  back  who  stands  on 
a  prodigious  Rock — Its  surfice  widely  extended  nearly  horizontal — 
[&  its  cut  down]  &  its  sides  cut  down  strait  or  perpendicular  to  the 
very  bottom — beloiv  which  is  a  bottomless  abiss  Pray  Mr.  Phil- 
osopher what  man  was  ever  there  and  looked  down?  &  what  prevents 
the  Ocean,  unless  it  is  damd  with  earth  &  rocks  from  pouring  down 
&  loosing  itself  in  this  horrible  abiss? — But  how  extensive  is  this 
teraque-surface  ?  Indeed  I  am  of  opinion,  if  this  sistem  is  true  I 
am  nearly  at  one  end  of  it.'  But  the  hipothises  is  too  absurd  &  incon- 
sistent. The  earth  must  be  of  a  spherical  form  &  a  westerly  course 
will  lead  us  to  the  land  of  our  nativity — Perhaps  this  is  a  part  of 
the  eastern  Continent,  or  perhaps  only  a  narrow  strip  of  the  Ocean 
intervenes?  On  no  other  principle  can  we  account  for  the  emigra- 
tion of  the  ancestors  of  those  innumerable  hords  of  human  beings 
that  possess  this  continent — Their  tradition  is  that  their  ancestors 
came  form  the  west — &  they  agree  in  their  information  that  at  the 
distance  of  fifteen  days  journey  in  a  westerly  direction,  there  are 
nations  vastly  more  numerous,  powerful  &  civilized  than 
themselves  J\ 

The  earth  therefore  must  be  a  globe  and  a  westerly  course 
will  lead  us  to  the  land  of  our  nativity.  On  what  principle 
can  we  account  for  the  emigration  of  the  ancestors  of  these 
innumerable  hords  of  human  beings  that  possess  this  Con- 
tinent? Their  tradition  tells  them  that  they  emigrated  from 
the  westward — From  this  I  draw  the  conclusion — that  the  sea 
if  any,  wrhich  intervenes  between  the  two  Continents  at  the 
westward  is  not  so  extensive,  but  that  it  may  be  safely  navi- 
gated. [I  have  also  learnt  from  some  of  the~\  we  are  also  informed 
by  some  of  the  natives,  that  at  the  distance  of  about  fifteen 
days  journey  in  a  northwesterly  course  there  is  a  great  River 
which  runs  in  a  \_south~]  westerly  direction,  \_they  cannot  tell  how 
far] — &  that  along  the  banks  of  this  river  there  are  great  towns 
&  mighty  kings  &  a  people  who  live  in  a  state  of  civilization — 
From  all  these  considerations  I  am  determined  to  remove — 
pursue  a  westerly  course  &  seek  the  delightful  country  of  my 

3 


18 

ancestors. — Imediately  I  communicated  my  determination  & 
the  reasons  on  which  it  was  founded  to  our  little  Society,  who 
joyfully  acquiessed — It  was  tho't  to  be  the  most  prudential  to 
find  out  the  disposition  &  character  of  the  inhabitants,  who 
were  settled  along  the  great  River  lest  we  should  fall  into  the 
hands  of  Robbers — For  this  purpose  my  man  Crito  &  mysell 
&  a  Delawan  for  an  interpreter  set  off.  We  passed  thro'  a  a 
country  interspersed  with  vilages,  inhabited  by  the  same  lyind 
of  people  as  the  Delawans  until  we  came  to  a  great  mountain. 
Having  passed  over  this  we  had  not  traveled  far  before  we 
came  to  the  confluence  of  two  great  Rivers  which  in  conjunc- 
tion produced  a  river  which  was  called  Owaho  deep  enough, 
for  the  navigation  of  Ships. — Here  was  a  large-  town  or  city 
inhabited  by  a  distinct  race  of  people  from  any  we  had  seen 
before.  We  were  immediately  conducted  to  the  King  &  were 
received  very  graciously — &  having  asked  a  number  of  very 
pertinent  questions  &  received  answers  to  his  satisfaction — I 
then  made  known  to  him  our  business  &  had  all  my  requests 
granted — As  we  proposed  to  move  into  his  territory  he  offered 
to  furnish  us  for  our  convenience  with  four  Mammoons  &  four 
men  to  manage  them.  These  were  an  annimal  of  prodigious 
magnitude,  even  biger  than  the  eliphant,  which  the  natives 
had  tamed  &  domesticated — They  were  very  segacious  & 
docile  &  were  employed  in  carying  burthens  &  in  drawing 
timber — [&  in  plowing  their  land] — Their  hair  at  the  spring 
season  was  about  seven  inches  in  length  &  was  of  a  fine 
wooly  consistence — &  being  sheared  off  at  the  proper  season 
was  manufactured  into  course  Cloth — and  the  milk  of  the 
females,  which  they  produced  in  abundance,  afforded  a  very 
wholsome  nutriment.  Having  thus  succeeded  beyond  our 
expectation  we  made  as  much  expidition  to  return  as  possible 
— We  arrived  in  safety  without  any  material  accidents — The 
Little  Society  I  had  left  were  greatly  rejoised  on  our  returne — 
&  highly  pleased  with  the  account  we  gave  of  the  country  we 
had  visited — &  at  the  sight  of  those  {extraordinary  £  prodigious 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  19 

animals']  mammoons  which  we  had  bro't  to  convey  our  baggage. 
—No  time  was  lost  to  make  preparation  for  the  journey  — The 
Captain,  Mate  &  myself  went  to  the  King  &  held  a  conference 
with  him  &  the  cheifs  &  obtained  leave  to  depart,  tho  with 
apparent  regret  &  reluctance.  Sacks  were  provided  from 
Course  Cloth  to  receive  the  most  valuable  part  of  our  goods  & 
furniture — These  were  thrown  across  three  of  the  Mammoons 
— The  other  was  caparisoned,  in  a  manner  too  tedious  to 
discribe  for  the  accomidation  of  our  women  &  children — 
They  were  all  mounted  upon  him  &  road  with  great  conveni- 
ence &  safety.  [Being  thus  prepared  &,  ready]  Thus  having 
resided  among  the  Delivans  two  years — &  being  prepared  to 
take  our  departure  The  King  &  his  chiefs  &  many  of  his  prin- 
cipal subjects  came  forward  to  take  an  affectionate  farewell. 
This  was  done  on  both  sides,  with  mutual  expressions  of  the 
most  ardent  and  sincere  Friendship  &  the  most  earnest  wishes 
&  prayers  for  future  prosperity  and  happiness  Having  taken 
our  final  adieu  I  observed  honest  Crito  sheding  tears  very 
plentifully — You  seem  to  be  affected  said  I — God  bless  your 
honour  said,  he,  when  I  think  how  kind  &  generous  these  poor 
Delawans  have  been  to  us  I  cannot  help  feeling  an  affection  & 
friendship  for  them — We  were  obliged  to  anchor  amongst  them 
— we  were  strangers — &  helpless  and  they  were  ignorant  Sav- 
ages— yet  they  held  out  the  hand  of  kindness  &  treated  us  as 
brothers  &  sisters. — Have  they  not  fulfilled  the  law  of  Chris- 
tian charity — 0  that  they  were  good  Christians — may  God  for- 
give their  ignorance  &  unbeleife — and  reward  them  for  their 
kindness  &  gerosity. — We  passed  on — No  obsticles  impeded  our 
journey  until  we  came  to  the  great  River  Suscowah — which 
runs  between  the  Deli  wall  River  and  the  great  mountain — The 
water  being  too  deep  for  fording,  \\  e  built  a  small  boat  and 
with  this,  at  several  times  we  conveyed  the  whole  of  the  bag- 
gage &  Company  across,  except  the  manager  of  the  Mam- 
moons, who  mounted  them  &  swam  them  across — We  then 
proceeded  on  by  slow  marches, — but  in  crossing  the  great 


'20  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

mountain  we  had  some  difficulties  to  encounter  [but  hower  met 
with  received  no  material  damage] — but  finally  arived  safely  at 
the  great  city  Owhahon  on  the  twenty  fifth  day  after  our  depart- 
ure from  the  Deliwan. 

Fatigued  with  a  long  and  difficult  journey,  great  joy  and 
gladness  were  visible  in  every  Countenance,  and  all  were  dis- 
posed to  establish  our  residence  here  until  further  information 
could  be  obtained  &  further  measures  concerted  to  prosecute 
our  journey  to  Europe  The  King  and  his  principal  officers 
proffered  us  every  assistance  necessary  to  make  our  situation 
agreeable.  They  assigned  us  in  [conformity  to  our  wishes]  com- 
pliance with  our  request,  a  number  of  houses  on  the  bank  of 
the  river  at  a  little  distance  from  the  City — We  made  him  some 
valuable  presents  in  return,  which  he  received  as  a  token  of 
friendship  but  not  as  a  compensation — For  such  was  the  high 
sence  of  honour  which  this  prince  sustained,  that  when  he 
made  a  present,  he  would  take  it  as  an  insult  to  offer  him  any 
thing  as  a  compensation. — 

Having  now  once  more  become  setled  our  little  com- 
munity continued  the  same  regulations  which  they  had 
established  at  Deliwan — &  all  things  proceeded  in  peace  &  our 
affairs  prospered. 


CHAP    V 

A  discription  of  the  Ohons, 
[c£  manner  of  procuring  a  living,] 

I  am  now  to  discribe  a  [species  of]  nation  who  have  but 
little  resemblance  to  those  [innumerable  tribes  of]  Savages,  who 
live  along  the  coasts  of  the  Atlantic — Their  complexion,  the 
form  and  construction  of  their  bodies,  their  customs  manners, 
Laws,  government  &  religion  all  demonstrate  that  they  must 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  21 

have  originated  from  some  other  nation  &  have  but  a  very 
distant  affinity  with  their  Savage  neighbours. — As  to  their 
persons,  they  were  taller  on  an  average  than  I  had  ever  seen 
in  any  nation — their  bones  wer  large,  limbs  strait  &  shoulders 
broad — Their  eyes  rather  small  &  sunck  deep  in  the  head 
Their  forheads  were  prominant — &  the  face  below  tapering  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  chin  was  forned  nearly  to  a  point.  As 
to  their  complexion,  it  was  hording  on  an  olive  tho  of  a  lighter 
shade — Their  eyes  were  generally  of  a  dark  brown  or  black 
Their  hair  of  the  same  colour,  tho  I  have  sometimes  seen  per- 
sons, whose  hair  was  of  a  redish  hue. — 

They  cloathed  themselves  in  cloth  which  was  manufac- 
tured [among  themselves]  from  the  hair  of  the  Mammoons  & 
from  Cotton  which  was  transported  from  the  South  westwest- 
ward.  The  men  wore  shoes  and  long  stockings, — wide  trousses 
— a  waistcoat  &  a  garment  with  wide  short  sleaves  which  came 
down  to  their  nees  &  in  cold  weather  a  Cloak  over  the  whole 
The  covering  for  the  head  was  generaly  a  kind  of  a  Cap  which 
ran  up  high  and  tapered  to  a  point — This  was  generally  made 
of  fur  skins  &  was  ornimented  with  feathers.  It  had  a  small 
brim  in  the  shape  of  an  half  moon  to  project  over  the  fore- 
head— 

7  The  women  beside  a  stockings  &  shoes  wore  a  short  pete- 
coat  a  shirt  of  cotton  a  loose  garment  with  sleaves  which  they 
girted  round  them  with  belts — &  a  cloak — They  had  various 
orniments  such  as  ribbons  made  from  cotton  &  coulored  with 
different  coulars — the  most  beautiful  feathers  that  could  be 
obtained  and  shels  of  various  kinds  —Indeed  the  higher  class 
of  women  were  extreemly  fond  of  ornament — &  placed  a  large 
share  of  their  happiness  in  the  bliancy  &  gaudy  appearance  of 
their  garments.  The  people  obtained  their  living  generally  by 
the  cultivation  of  the  Land — &  [the  manage']  by  tending  and 
managing  certain  animals  which  had  been  so  long  domesti- 
cated that  they  had  lost  their  wild  nature  &  become  tame 

Corn,  wheat,  beans  squashes  &  carrots  they  raised  in  great 


22  THE 

abundance — The  ground  was  plowed  by  horses  &  generally 
made  very  mellow  for  the  reception  of  the  seed. — 

It  was  the  occupation  of  a  certain  part  of  the  men  to  tend 
upon  the  tame  animals  to  drive  them  to  pasture  &  keep  them 
from  straying  and  feed  them  when  the  snow  was  on  the 
ground. — Two  men  would  tend  twenty  Mammouth,  which 
were  indifferent  whether  they  fed  on  grass  or  cropt  the  bushes — 
when  these  animals  were  fat,  their  flesh  was  highly  esteemed — 
They  had  droves  of  Elk,  which  they  had  so  tamed  and  tutored 
that  they  could  manage  them  as  they  pleased— and  they 
would  follow  them  like  a  flock  of  sheep — &  it  was  but  seldom 
that  any  would  leave  their  companions, — The  elk  constituted  a 
considerable  part  of  their  animal  food — The  horses  were  man- 
aged in  the  same  way — &  the  people  tho't  their  meat  to  be  a 
savory  dish. 

They  had  large  numbers  of  turkeys  and  gees — which  tho 
originally  wild  yet  by  treating  them  with  great  familiarity  by 
croping  their  wings  and  feeding  them  frequently  they  dis- 
covered no  disposition  to  ramble  off  but  propagated  their 
species  &  laid  eggs  in  abundance. — 

Hunting  &  fishing  were  the  employments  of  some — others 
followed  mechanical  business — others  carried  on  a  bartering 
trade  to  the  southwestward — in  order  to  furnish  the  people 
with  cotton  &  other  articles  whose  production  was  not  con- 
ginial  to  their  climate.  By  pursuing  these  various  employ- 
ments they  generally  had  a  plenty  of  provisions  at  all  seasons 
&  were  comfortably  cloathed. — And  here  I  would  remark  as 
one  striking  characteristic  of  this  people — that  the}r  observed 
great  neatness  in  their  dress — in  their  cookery  and  in  their 
houses. 

The  manufacturing  of  Iron  &  lead  was  understood  but  was 
not  carried  on  to  that  extent  &  perfection  as  in  Europe.  A 
small  quantity  of  Iron  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  inhab- 
itants served  to  supply  them  with  all  the  impliments  which 
custom  had  made  necessar}^  for  their  use — By  hamnering  & 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  23 

hardening  their  Iron  they  would  convert  it  nearly  into  the 
consistence  of  steal — •&  fit  it  for  the  purpose  of  edge  tools. 

The  potery  Business  was  conducted  with  great  inginuity,  & 
great  quantities  of  stone  and  earthan  ware  consisting  of  [every 
kind]  of  vessels  of  every  construction  which  were  needed  for 
family  use,  were  manufactured  in  every  part  of  this  extensive 
country.  These  vessels  they  ornirnented  with  [pictures  witli] 
the  likenesses  of  various  kinds  of  animals  &  trees  &  impressed 
upon  them  such  coulors  as  would  strike  the  fancy  with  delight. 
— The  females  of  the  [higher  Class]  most  wealthy  class  would 
often  have  a  large  and  superfluous  quantity  of  this  brittle 
furniture  to  decorate  one  apartment  of  the  house — The  vessels 
they  arranged  in  such  order  as  to  make  a  display  of  taste  & 
impress  the  mind  with  the  agreeable  sensation  of  beauty. — 

In  architecture  there  can  be  no  comparison  with  the  civil- 
ised nations  of  Europe' — In  their  most  welthy  &  popolous 
Cities  their  houses  and  public  buildings,  exhibit  no  eligance — 
no  appearans  of  wealth  &  grandure — all  is  plain — &  nothing 
superfluous — but  convenience  appears  to  be  the  whole  object 
they  had  in  view  in  the  construction  of  their  buildings  of 
every  kind. 

Their  houses  were  generally  but  one  story  high — built  of 
wood,  being  framed  &  covered  with  split  clapboards  or  shingles 
<fe  in  the  inside  the  walls  were  formed  of  clay,  which  was 
plastered  over  with  a  thin  coat  of  lime — Their  houses  seldom 
consisted  of  more  than  three  appartments  As  to  their  chimnies, 
they  construt  a  wall  of  stone  about  five  feet  hight  [for  the  fire  to 
be]  against  which  they  build  their  fire — from  the  top  of  this  wall 
they  construct  their  chimney  with  thin  peices  of  split  timber 
on  the  inside  [with  wet  dirt  or  day]  of  which  they  plaister  wet, 
dirt  or  clay — which  compleatly  covers  &  adheres  to  the 
timber  &  prevents  the  fire  from  having  any  operation  upon  it. 
The  inside  of  their  houses,  as  the  women  generally  practiss 
neetness  makes  a  much  better  appearance  than  the  outside. 

It  is  my  opinion,  says  Trojanus  that  this  people  display  a 


24 

taste  in  building  which  is  formed  upon  the  true  principles  of 
Reason — Their  houses  are  sufficiently  spacious  for  convenience 
No  expence  or   labour  are  thrown  away  in  building  useless 
apartments — or  in  the  erecting  their  houses  higher  than  what 
convenience    requires; — The    whole    catalogue    of    ornimen- 
tal  trumpery    is    neglected — This   in  Room    produces    more 
than  half   the    labour    &  expence  in    buildings — [Yes    says 
Lucian — &    without    this,  these    labouring    people    must    starve 
for   the    want   of    employment.     &  the   citizens   of   the    Roman 
empire    would   be    deprived    of    the    honour     of    possessing    a 
splendid   Capital  &    of   the  exquisite  pleasure  of  beholding  the 
greatest  exhibition  of  human    inginuity    i:i    the    eligance,   [the] 
splendor   [the']  simitry  &  beauty  of  their  houses,  \their}  polices 
&  public   edifices — True   indeed,  replies    Trojanus,  men   may  be 
dazled  &  delighted  with  such  objects  for  a  moment — But  could 
not  wealth  be  better  bestowed  [upon]  to  promote  the  intrest  of  the 
community    &   for    charitable   purposes — &    these    artists  better 
employ  their  strength  &  inginuity  in  producing  some  substantial 
benefits  to  themselves  &  others. — Rejoins  Lucian,  the  course  reason 
dictates  is  to  avoid  extremes. — A  'slab  coloured  world  would  tire  the 
sences  by  its  uniformity  &  too  much  orniment  <$c  splendor  ivould  cease 
to  please  by  its  frequency.] — Besides — lofty  houses  can  more  easily 
be  overthrown  by  tornadoes  or  tumbled  down  upon  our  heads 
by  earthquakes. — The  course  says  Lucian,  that  reason  dictates 
is  to  avoid  extremes.     A  slab  coloured,  [would]  by  its  uniformity 
would  tire  the  sences — &  by  its  possessing  too  much  orninent 
&  splendor  it  would  cease  to  please. — 


CHAP.    VI 

Discription  of  the  Learning—  [Religion  ct  customs  of  the  Ohons\ 

Learning  appears  to  be  so  consonant  to  the  nature  of 
man  &  [a  good]  convenent  share  of  it  so  easy  to  obtain,  that 
some  may  wonder  why  it  is  not  universally  defused  thro  the 


25 

world;*  [But]  If  we  can  place  any  reliance  on  the  dark  annals 
of  antient  history,  it  is  a  certain  fact  that  Letters  are  indebted 
for  their  existence  to  the  inventive  genius  of  certain  extraor- 
dinary characters — Egypt  &  Chaldea  contended  for  the  honour 
of  being  the  firstf  who  invented  letters — Perhaps  they  were 
invented  in  each  nation  nearly  at  the  same  time — [But]  let 
this  be  as  it  may — could  no  other  nation  in  the  world  produce 
as  great  geniuses  as  Egypt  or  Chaldea?  Is  there  any  natural 
obsticle  to  prevent  their  prodution  in  America  as  well  as  in 
Asia? — Whatever  may  be  the  reasonings  of  some  on  this  sub- 
ject, the  fact  is,  that  I  found  [Letters  or]  some  share  of  learning, 
tho'  in  a  very  imperfect  state,  among  this  people — At  present 
I  shall  wave  the  account  of  its  introduction  &  shall  merely 
discribe  the  state  of  learning  as  it  existed  among  the  Ohons 
They  had  characters  which  represent  words — &  all  compound 
words  had  each  part  represented  by  its  apropriate  character. 
The  variation  of  cases  moods  &  tenses  was  designated  by 
certain  marks  placed  under  the  character.  They  generally 
wrote  on  parchment — &  beginning  at  the  right  wrote  from  the 
top  to  the  botton,  placing  each  character  directly  under  the 
preceding  one — &  having  finished  one  colum  or  line  they 
[begin  the]  wrote  the  next  on  the  left  of  that  &  so  continue  on 
until  they  cover  the  parchment  if  the  subject  require  it.  in  a 
work  of  considerable  Labour  &  time  to  obtain  such  a  knowl- 
edge of  their  characters  &  the  application  as  to  be  able  to  read 
Avith  fluency  &  to  write  with  ease  &  accuracy — 

In  their  principal  Cities.  &  towns  the  Government  appoint 
learned  men  to  instruct  the  sons  of  the  higher  class  of  citizens 
&  in  the  course  of  four  or  five  years  they  will  make  such  pro- 
ficiency as  to  become  tolerable  schollars. 

*  But  the  wonder  would  cease  when  it  is  considered  that  mankind  with 
but  few  exceptions  to  walk  in  the  tracts  of  their  fathers  &  pursue  the  road 
marked  out  by  their  education. 

fTho  the  most  probable  conjecture  is  that  they  were  communicated 
from  one  nation  to  the  other. 


26 

The  works  of  the  learned  are  not  very  voluminous. 
Records  are  kept  of  the  transactions  of  their  government. 
Their  constitution  &  laws  are  committed  to  writing — [ A  sacred 
Roll  in  in  'manuscript  is  preserved  among  the  Records  of  their 
Emperors  &  kings']  &  are  dispersed  thro  the  impire — &  much 
pains  is  taken  to  defuse  the  knowledge  of  them  among  the 
people — In  all  their  large  towns  &  cities  they  have  deposited 
under  the  care  of  a  priest  a  sacred  Roll,  which  contains  the 
tenets  of  their  Theology  &  a  discription  of  their  religious 
cerimonies.  This  order  of  men  publish  comments  upon  these 
sacred  writings — they  publish  some  tracks  on  moral  phil- 
osophy— &  some  containing  a  collection  of  proverbs  &  the 
wise  sayings  of  their  sages. — 

But  the  kind  of  composition  in  which  they  most  excel  is 
poetry — In  poetic  numbers  they  describe  the  great  events, 
which  take  place — &  the  exploits  and  mighty  atcheivments  of 
their  heroes — In  soft  eligies  they  paint  the  amours  of  Lovers 
&  in  pathetic  strains  they  delineate  the  calamimities  &  sorrows 
of  the  unfortunate.  In  their  assemblies  it  is  very  common  for 
a  certain  class  of  the  Learned  to  entertain  the  company  with 
a  repetition  of  poetic  peices  describing  the  battles  and  exploits 
of  their  warriors — Or  to  sing  some  amarous  or  witty  ballad — 
As  for  Theators  they  have  none — but  as  a  kind  of  substitute 
— there  are  actors,  who  entertain  the  people  by  pronounsing 
dialogues  or  plays,  in  which  they  display  all  the  arts  of  mim- 
icry— &  [act  out  the]  express  in  their  countenance  their  gesture 
&  the  tone  of  their  voices  different  passions  of  the  human 
mind  As  only  a  small  proportion  of  the  people  are  instructed 
in  the  arts  of  reading  &  writing,  of  consequen  the  great  mass, 
must  possess  a  large  share  of  ignorance — but  not  so  great  a  share 
as  savages  who  have  no  learning  among  them — They  head  the 
conversation  &  the  letures  of  their  sages — [they  are  entertained 
with]  Their  poetic  orators  entertain  them  with  the  productions 
of  their  poets,  containing  the  history  of  great  events  &  mighty 
atcheivments — Their  actors  divert  and  please  them  by  exciting 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  27 

the  various  passions — [at  the  same  time  communicating  instruc- 
tion &  corecting  the  natural  savageness  of  maners  by.~\  &  as  the 
peices  they  reherse  contain  many  ideas  &  sentiments  tending 
to  expose  the  deformity  of  vice,  the  folly  of  superstition  &  the 
disgustfulness  of  rude  &  clownish  manners,  the  people  of  con- 
sequence are  improved  &  considerably  refined — add  to  this 
their  living  in  compact  towns  or  cities  in  which  there  is  a 
constant  and  reciprocol  communication  of  ideas — which  of 
course  would  have  no  small  effect  to  inform  their  minds — To 
all  these  causes  combined  the  [Ohons]  the  great  mass  of  the 
people  are  indebted  for  possessing  a  considerable  share  of 
knowledge  and  civilization. 


RELION.    VII. 

In  every  nation  there  is  some  kind  of  Relion.  &  in  every 
religion,  however  adulterated  &  corrupted  there  are  some 
things  which  are  commendable — some  things  which  serve  to 
improve  the  morals — &  influence  mankind  to  conduct  better 
than  what  they  would  do,  provided  they  pursued  the  natural 
dictates  of  their  depraved  minds,  [without  any  restraint]  As 
this  sentiment  is  an  established  maxim,  which  has  been  be- 
lieved in  every  nation  from  the  earliest  ages  [of  time  in  every 
nation^  hence  it  has  been  the  policy  of  all  governments  to 
encourage  &  protect  some  kind  of  Religion  &  precepts  In 
examining  the  religious  sentiments  which  are  believed  and 
practised  thro'out  this  extensive  empire  &  which  are  encour- 
aged &  protected  by  the  government. — I  found  some  things 
which  are  common  to  the  various  sistems  of  Theology  in 
Europe  &  Asia  &  some  things  which  have  no  resemblance  to 
either.  From  the  sacred  Roll  as  it  is  denominated  I  shall 
extract  the  tenets  of  their  Theology  &  a  description  of  their 


28 

religious  cerimonies.  It  expresses  them  to  this  effect.  "There 
is  an  intelligent  omnipotent  Being,  who  is  self  existant  & 
infinitely  good  &  benevolent — Matter  eternally  existed — He 
put  forth  his  hand  &  formed  it  into  such  bodies  as  he  pleased 
— He  presides  over  the  universe  &  has  a  perfect  knowledge  of 
all  things — From  his  own  spiritual  substance  he  formed  seven 
sons — These  are  his  principal  agents  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
his  empire — He  formed  the  bodies  of  men  from  matter — Into 
each  body  he  infused  a  particle  of  his  own  spiritual  substance, 
in  consequence  of  which  man  in  his  first  formation  was 
inclined  to  benevolence  &  goodness.  There  is  also  another 
great  inteligent  Being  who  is  self  existent  &  possessed  of  great 
power  but  not  of  Omnipotence  -  He  is  filled  with  infinite 
malice  against  the  good  Being  &  exerts  all  his  subtlety  &  pow 
to  ruin*  his  works — Seeing  the  happy  situation  of  man  he 
approached  so  near  as  to  touch  his  soul  with  his  deliterious  hand 
— The  poison  was  immediately  defused  &  contaminated  his 
passions  &  appetites — His  reason  and  understanding  received 
no  injury — The  good  being  looking  upon  his  unhappy  ofspring 
with  infinite  love  and  compassion  made  a  decree  that  if  man- 
kind would  reduce  their  passions  &  appetites  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  reason  he  should  enjoy  blessings  in  this  world  & 
be  compleatly  happy  after  his  soul  quits  his  body.  Death 
desolves  the  connection — Etherial  Bodies  are  prepared  for  the 
souls  of  the  righteous — These  bodies  can  pass  thro'  any  part  of 
the  universe  &  are  iiivisable  to  mortal  eyes.  Their  place  of 
residence  is  on  a  vast  plain  which  is  beautified  with  magnifi- 
cent Buildings — with  Trees,  fruits  &  flowers.  [Here  they  enjoy 
every  delight  which']  No  immagination  can  paint  the  delights, 
the  felicity  of  the  Righteous.  But  the  wicked  are  denied 
etherial  bodies — Their  souls  naked  and  incapable  of  seeing 
light,  dwel  in  darkness  &  are  tormented  with  the  keenest 
anguish — Ages  roll  away  &  the  good  being  has  compassion 
upon  them — He  permits  them  to  take  possession  of  etherial 
bodies  and  they  arise  quick  to  the  abodes  of  delight  &  glory: 


29 

Now  0  man  attend  to  thy  duty  &  thou  shalt  escape  the  por- 
tion of    the  wicked  &  enjoy   the   delights   of   the  righteous 
Avoid  all  acts  of  cruelty  to  man  and  beast*  defraud  not  thy 
neighbour,  nor  suffer  thy  hands  secretly  to  convey  his  property 
from  him — Preserve  thy  body  from  the  contamination  of  lust 
— &  remember  the  seduction  of  thy  neighbors  wife  would  be 
a  great  Crime  —  [Let  thy  citizens  be  numbered  once  in  two  years —  V 
&  if  the  young  women,  who  are  fit  for  marriage  are  more  numerous 
than  the  young  men — then  wealthy  men,  who  are  young  &  who 
have   but  one  wife,   shall  have  the  priviledge,    [with  the  permis- 
sion  of    the   King~\    to  marry  another  until  the  numbers  of  the 
single  young  men  $•  the  single  young  women  are  made  equal    But 
he  ivho  hath  two  wives  shall  have  a  house  provided  for  each — <f  ^ie 
shall  spend  his  time  equally  with  each  oneJ-^Be  grateful  for  all 
favours  &  forsake  not  thy  friend  in  adversity.     Treat  with 
kindness  &  reverence  thy  Parents — Forsake  them  not  in  old 
age,  nor  let  their  cheeks  be  furrowed  with  tears  for  the  want 
of   bread. — Bow  down  thy  head    before   the  aged,  treat  thy 
superiors  with  respect  —  &  place  thy  rulers  &  thy  teachers  in 
the  most  honorable  seats.     Let  rulers  consult  the  welfare  of 
the  people  and  not  agrandize  themselves  by  oppression  &  base 
bribes — Let  Religious  Teachers  walk  in  the  Road  which  leads 
to   celestial   happiness   &   lead   the   people   after    them — Let 
.  Parents  restrain  the  vices  of  their  children  &  instruct  their 
minds  in  useful  knowledge — Contention  and  strife  is  the  Bane 
of  Families  &  the  destruction  of  domestic  happiness — being 
yoked  together  the  husband  and  wife  ought  to  draw  in  the 
.  same  direction — their  countenances  will  then  [appear  beautiful] 
shine  with  the  effulgent  Beams  of  Friendship  &   love — peace 
&  harmony  will  attend  their  habitation  &  their  affairs  will 
prosper. 

Hold  out  the  hand  of  kindness  &  friendship  to  thy  neigh- 
bour— consider  him  when  reduced  to  indigence  &  distress — he 

*  No  crime  is  so  horrid  as  maliciously  to  destroy  the  life  of  man 


30  THE 

is  as  dear  to  the  great  and  good  being  as  what  thou  art  [<&  now 
thou  hast  an  opportunity  to  manifest  the  disposition  of  thy  heart] 
To  afford  him  relief  will  be  pleasing  to  thy  maker  &  an 
expression  of  thy  gratituge  Envious  &  malicious  souls  are 
almost  incurably  contaminated  with  that  hellish  poison  which 
first  disordered  the  soul  of  man— partake  not  of  their  guilt  by 
joining  them  in  the  malignant  work  of  slander  &  detraction. 
Their  intended  mischief  returns 'upon  their  own  heads  &  the 
slandered  character  of  the  innocent  &  just  shines  forth  with 
increasing  lusture.  Let  the  stranger  find  a[n  hospitable]  rest- 
ing place  under  thy  Roof — give  him  to  eat  from  thy  portion, 
that  when  he  departs  he  may  bless  thee  &  go  on  his  way 
rejoicing. — 

Say  not  to  thyself  I  will  indulge  inactivity  &  idleness  & 
lie  upon  the  bed  of  sloth  &  slumber  away  the  precious 
moments  of  time — for  in  this  thou  art  unwise — for  disease  will 
attend  thee,  hunger  will  torment  thee — &  Rags  will  be  thy 
clothing — Let  industry  &  econemy  fill  up  the  measure  of  thy 
waking  moments,  so  shall  thy  countenance  display  health  & 
sprightliness  plenty  shall  supply  the  wants  of  thy  family  & 
thy  reputation  shall  be  respectable. 

\_ButIbcliold  a  being  in  human  form,  from  whom  I  turn  away 
with  disgust  &  abhorrance  He  is  covered  with  so  much  dirt  &  filth, 
that  no  etherial  body  is  provided  for  him  nor  can  he  be  received  into 
the  abodes  of  the  blessed] 

Sufer  not  thy  bodies  or  thy  garments  to  remain  bismered 
with  dirt  &  filth — Cleanliness  prevents  many  deceases  &  is 
pleasant  to  the  sight  But  from  a  dirty  filthy  mortal  we  turn 
with  disgust  &  abhorrance  As  the  great  author  of  our  exist- ' 
ence  is  benevolent  to  all  his  offspring  so  it  becomes  us  to  be 
benevolent  to  our  fellow  beings  around  us — Our  country  is  one 
Body  &  we  are  part  of  its  members — We  are  therefore  bound 
to  maintain  the  rights  &  priviledges  &  the  honour  &  dignity  of 
our  country  at  the  Risk  of  our  lives — Great  rewards  attend 
the  Brave — &  their  expploits  &  atchievments  in  contending 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  31 

against  tyrants  &  in  defending  the  Rights  of  their  country  will 
be  celebrated  on  the  plains  of  story. — 

But  the  vision  now  expands  &  directs  our  contemplation 
to  fix  on  his  attributes,  whose  spiritual  substance  is  commen- 
surate with  infiriity — As  only  a  single  particle  from  his  sub- 
stance constitutes  our  souls,  how  small,  how  diminitive  must 
we  appear  in  the  view  of  Onnicience — We  must  therefore  con- 
template his  attributes  thro  the  medium  of  his  works — & 
admire  with  profound  reverance  &  adoration  his  wisdom  good- 
ness &  power  which  are  visible  in  the  formation  &  arrange- 
ment of  all  materiall  bodies  &  spiritual  beings.  He  requires 
us  to  suplicate  his  favours — &  when  received  to  express  our 
gratitude — As  our  passions  &  appetites  often  get  the  assend- 
ence  of  reason — we  are  therefore  bound  to  confess  our  faults 
&  implore  forgiveness — 

Now  that  you  know  &  keep  all  these  things  which  were 
made  known  by  divine  inspiration,  it  is  ordained  that  on 
every  eighth  day  ye  lay  asside  all  unnecessary  labour — that 
ye  meet  in  convenient  numbers  &  form  assemblies  That  in 
each  assembly  a  learned  holy  man  shall  preside,  who  shall 
lead  your  devotion,  &  .explain  this  sacred  Roll  &  give  you 
such  instruction  as  shall  promote  your  happiness  in  this  life  & 
in  the  life  to  come  Once  in  three  months — ye  shall  hold  a 
great  festival  in  every  city  &  towns  &  your  priests  shall  sacri- 
fice an  Elk  as  a  token  that  your  sins  deserve  punishment — 
but  that  the  divine  mercy  has  banished  them  into  shades  of 
forgetfulness. — 

Be  attentive  0  man  to  the  words  of  truth  which  have 
been  recorded  &  pay  respect  to  all  the  commandments  which 
have  been  written  fpr  your  observance — Your  maker  will  then 
be  pleased  to  see  you  rejoice  in  the  participation  of  his  favours 
&  to  behold  your  faces  brighten  with  the  benign  beams  of 
cheerfulness. — 


32  THE 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  BASK  A.     [CHAP]    VIII 

Among  the  great  &  illustrious  characters  who  have  appeard 
in  the  world  in  different  ages  as  instructors  &  reformers  of  mankind 
Baska  is  entitled  to  a  conspicuous  place — The  place  of  his  nativity 
is  not  recorded.  But  the  first  notice  which  is  given  of  him  is 
— his  appearance  at  the  great  city  of  Tolanga,  which  is  situate 
on  the  Banks  of  the  Siota  River.  He  was  attended  by  his  wife 
&  two  little  sons.  The  fashion  of  their  garments  were  differ- 
ent from  the  natives —Their  complexion  likewise  was  a  little 
whiter — Baska  was  grave  solemn  and  sedate — reserved  in  his 
conversation — but  when  he  spoke  wisdom  preceded  from  his 
lips  —  &  all  were  astonished  at  his  eloquence — His  fame  spread 
rapidly  thro,  city  &  country — &  he  was  celibrated  as  a  man  of 
the  most  briliant  &  extraordinary  Talents. — He  was  conducted 
to  the  King  &  introduced  to  him  — The  King  asked  him  from 
what  country  he  came — His  reply  was  at  a  great  distance  from 
the  westward — He  then  asked  him  induced  him  to  come  into 
his  country — He  replied 


CAPT   VIII 

Perhaps  Reader  before  we  describe  the  government  of  the 
Ohons  it  might  be  proper  to  relax  our  minds  with  a  few  seeches 
of  Biography— The  character  which  will  best  connect  with  the 
history  of  the  learning,  rereligion  &  government  of  the  Ohons 
is  that  of  the  great  &  illustrious  Lobaska  —He  is  the  man,  who 
first  introduced  their  present  method  of  writing,  who  first  pre- 
sented them  the  sacred  Roll  which  contains  the  tenets  &  pre- 
cepts of  their  religion  —  &  who  formed  their  political  Constitu- 
tion as  it  respects  the  connection  of  various  kingdoms  or  tribes 
under  one  government  There  are  many  anecdotes,  which 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  33 

tradition  has  handed  down  respecting  this  extraordinary  man 
which  have  the  complexion  of  [the  miraculous  &  hence  I  con- 
clude they  must  be  fabulous]  fables — [Such  as]  as  for  instance  he  is 
represented  as  forming  a  curious  machine  &  having  seated 
himself  upon  it  he  mounted  into  the  atmosphere  &  assended  a 
great  hieght — &  having  sailed  a  considerable  distance  thro  the 
air  he  decended slowly  &  received  no  damage— that  multitudes 
of  astonished  spectators  had,  a  number  of  times  seen  him  per- 
form this  miraculous  exploit  — &  that  he  declared  that  when 
he  took  these  excurtions  his  extraordinary  wisdom  &  knowl- 
edge was  communicated  to  him — If  he  did  in  fact  perform 
such  exploits  no  wonder  that  he  managed  an  ignorant  people 
as  he  pleased — But  as  it  is  not  my  intention  to  amuse  my 
readers  by  a  splended  relation  of  fables  I  shall  confine  myself 
to  facts  which  cannot  be  contested— The  place  of  his  nativity 
is  not  recorded  -The  first  account  given  of  him  was  his 
appearance  in  the  great  city  of  Tolanga  which  is  situate  on  the 
Banks  of  the  Siota  River.  When  he  entered  that  city  he  was 
attended  by  his  wife  &  four  sons,  the  eldest  of  which  was 
about  eighteen  years  of  age — He  himself  appeared  to  be  about 
forty.  His  personal  appearance  was  commanding,  being  of 
midling  stature — of  a  bold  frank  countenance  &  eyes  livly  and 
penetrating,  In  his  general  deportment  he  was  chearful,  yet 
displayed  much  sedateness  &  gravity. — He  was  affable  and 
familliar  in  conversation  but  not  loquacious — He  never  would 
converse  long  on  trifling  subjects — had  a  wonderful  facility  to 
intermix  some  wise  sayings  &  remarks  [that  should  improve'] 
&  of  turning  with  dignity  &  gracefulness  the  attention  of  the 
company  to  subjects  that  were  important  &  interesting — None 
could  then  withstand  the  energy  of  his  reasoning — &  all  were 
astonished  at  the  inginuety  of  his  arguments  &  the  great 
knowledge  &  wisdom  which  he  displayed — His  fame  spread 
thro  the  city  and  country  &  multitudes  frequently  assembled 
&  importuned  him  to  give  them  instruction — Always  cheerful 
to  gratify  the  curiosity  &  comply  with  the  reasonable  requests 


34 

of  the  multitude  he  entertained  them  by  conversing  with 
them  familiarly — &  by  exhibiting  public  Discourses — All  were 
charmed  with  his  wisdom  &  eloquence — &  all  united  in  pro- 
nouncing him  to  be  the  most  extraordinary  man  in  existence 
&  generally  believed  that  he  held  conversation  with  celestial 
beings — &  always  acted  under  the  influence  of  divine  inspira- 
tion.— The  people  were  very  liberal  in  their  donations,  which 
enabled  him  to  support  his  family'  in  affluence— Having  thus 
in  a*  short  time  established  a  character  superior  with  respect  to 
wisdom  &  eloquence  to  any  man  who  had  ever  appeared  before 
him  in  the  nation,  he  then,  at  an  enterview  which  he  held 
with  the  King  &  the  chiefs,  told  them,  that  he  had  invented 
the  art  of  expressing  ideas  by  certain  marks  or  characters—  & 
having  explained  the  nature  of  the  subject  to  their  full  satis- 
faction he  then  proposed  to  establish  a  school  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  sons  of  the  principal  subjects  of  the  King.— The 
proposal  was  received  &  accepted  with  much  gratitud  & 
cheerfulness — A  house  was  immediately  prepared  for  the 
accommidation  of  schollars  &  in  a  short  time  the  numbers 
amounted  to  near  two  hundred. — But  here  it  must  be  observed 
that  the  art  of  making  &  applying  the  characters  to 
the  words  which  they  represented — was  taught  principally 
by  his  sons — they  had  all  received  an  education  from  their 
father — &  even  the  youngest,  who  was  but  about  eleven  years  old 
could  read  and  write  with  great  correctness  &  facility — He 
superintended  their  instruction  &  very  frequently  gave  thorn 
lectures  on  scientific  &  moral  subjects — his  scollars  made 
great  progress  in  learning — &  delighted  their  parents  with  the 
improvements  they  had  made  in  literature  civilization  & 
refinement. — He  still  continued  to  associate  among  the 
people  &  was  indefatigable  in  his  labours  to  dispel  their  ignor- 
ance, correct  their  superstition  &  vices  to  excite  their  industry 
&  to  defuse  a  more  accurate  knowledge  of  the  mechanical  arts 
— The  manufacture  of  Iron  in  particular  was  not  known;  this 
he  taught  a  number  by  showing  them  how  to  build  a  small 


35 

furnace  &  to  cast  iron  ware — &  then  how  to  build  a  small 
forge  &  refine  pigs  and  convert  them  into  Iron — He  had 
resided  among  the  Sciotans  about  three  years  &  the  happy 
effects  of  his  Labors  were  visible  to  all  observs — A  great 
reformation  had  taken  place  in  the  morals  &  manners  of  the 
people — industry  had  encreased — agriculture  &  the  mechanical 
arts  had  received  great  improvement — &  houses  were  built  on 
a  more  commodious  &  eligant  construction — But  not  willing 
to  stop  here  the  benevolent  mind  of  the  great  Lobaska  mide- 
tated  a  more  important  revolution — now  the  propicious  era  had 
arived  &  the  way  was  prepared  for  the  introduction  of  that 
system  of  Theology  which  is  comprised  in  the  Sacred  Roll — 
In  the  first  place  he  read  &  explained  the  whole  system  to  the 
king  &  the  cheifs  of  the  nation,  who  cordially  gave  it  their 
approbation  &  gave  permission  to  propogate  it  among  the 
people — Under  a  pretence  that  this  system  was  revealed  to 
him  in  several  interviews  which  he  had  been  permitted  to 
have  with  the  second  son  of  the  great  &  good  Being — 
the  people  did  not  long  hisitate,.  but  received  as  sacred  & 
divine  truth  every  word  which  he  taught  them  They  for- 
sook their  old  religion  which  was  a  confused  \_&  absurd] 
medley  of  Idoletry  &  supersticious  nonsence  &  embrace^, 
a  religion  more  sublime  &  consistent — &  more  fraught  with 
sentiments  which  would  promote  the  happiness  of  mankind 
in  this  world. 

Whilst  the  Siotans  were  thus  rapidly  progressing  in  their 
improvements  they  were  unhappily  disturbed  by  the  certain 
prospect  of  war.  Bombal  the  king  of  the  Kentucks — a  nation 
which  lived  on  the  south  side  of  the  great  River  Ohio,  had 
taken  great  umbrage  against  Hadokam  the  King  of  Siota — This 
Bombal  was  the  most  haughty  &  powerful  prince,  who 
reigned  in  this  part  of  the  western  Continent — It  had  been 
the  custom  for  several  ages  for  the  king  &  chiefs  of  the  Ken- 
tucks  to  have  the  exclusive  right  to  wear,  in  their  Caps  a 
bunch  of  blue  feathers,  wrhich  designated  their  pre-eminance 


36  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

over  every  nation. — The  Siotan  princes  envying  them  this 
distinguished  honor  &  considering  themselves  as  being  at  least 
their  equals  assumed  the  liberty  to  place  bunches  of  Blue 
feathers  upon  their  Caps. — This  in  the  opinion  of  the  Ken- 
tucks,  was  an  unpardonable  offence,  if  persisted  in,  &  a  most 
daring  insult  upon  their  supereminent  dignity — [A  messenger 
was  immediJ]  After  a  solemn  council  was  held  with  his  chiefs, 
Bombal,  with  their  unanimous  consent  dispached  a  messenger 
to  Hadoram — who  thus  proclaimed — Thus  saith  Bombal,  the 
king  of  kings  &  the  most  mighty  prince  on  earth — ye  have 
insulted  our  honour  &  dignity  in  assuming  blue  feathers, 
which  was  the  badge  of  our  preeminence — know  ye  that 
unless  ye  tear  them  from  your  Caps,  ye  shall  feel  the  weight 
of  our  vengence.  Hadoram  replied,  tell  your  Master  that  a 
great  company  of  Wolves  made  an  attack  upon  a  city  to  rob 
the  citizens  of  their  dear  &  elk,  &  they  let  forth  their  dogs 
upon  them,  which  attacked  them  with  such  fury  &  courage, 
that  they  fled,  mangled,  &  torn,  to  a  most  dreary  swamp — 
here  by  the  most  plaintive  howling,  they  lamented  their  sad 
disaster  &  disgrace. 

An  answer  so  shrewd  &  insulting,  it  was  expected  would 
soon  be  followed  by  an  invasion.  Measures  must  immediately 
be  taken  for  the  defence  of  the  kingdom — Lobaska  was  invited 
to  set  in  Council — all  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that  to 
comply  with  the  haughty  demand  of  Bombal,  by  tearing  the 
blue  feathers  from  their  caps  would  be  degrading  the  honour 
of  the  nation  and  a  relinquishment  of  their  natural  right — 
they  were  likewise  sensible  that  the  most  vigorous  exertions 
were  necessary  to  save  the  country  from  ruin.  The  opinion 
and  advice  of  Lobaska,  was  requested,  It  is  my  opinion  says 
he,  that  by  using  a  little  stratigem  this  war  might  be  bro't 
to  a  conclusion  which  will  be  honourable  to  this  kingdom.  We 
will  pursue,  says  the  King,  your  advice  &  directions.  I  shall 
be  happy,  says  Lobaska  to  assist  you  with  my  best  advice — 
Call  immediately  into  the  field  an  army  of  Three  thousand 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  37 

men — provide  two  thousand  shovels,  five  hundred  mathooks, 
&  one  thousand  wheelbarrows — &  one  hundred  axes;  I  will 
give  directions  how  to  make  them — Not  a  moment  was  lost, 
the  army  was  assembled  and  impliments  provided  with  the 
utmost  expidition — &  they  marched  down  the  river  to  a  cer- 
tain place  where  the  army  of  the  enimy  must  pass,  in  order  to 
arrive  at  the  City  of  Tolanga  At  this  place  the  hill  or  moun- 
tain came  within  less  than  a  mile  of  the  River  &  flat  or  level 
Land  intervened — Here  Lobaska  directed  that  a  Canal  should 
be  dug  from  the  River  [to  the  River,]  to  the  Hill— That  it 
should  be  eight  feet  wide  &  eight  deep  &  that  the  dirt  which 
they  dug  should  be  thrown  into  the  River — [that  the  canal] 
except  what  should  be  wanting  to  lay  over  thin  pieces  of  split 
timber,  which  should  be  extended  across  the  Canal  &  so  weak 
and  slender  that  the  weight  of  a  man  would  break  them  down. 
This  novel  invention  was  soon  carried  into  effect — &  the  work 
completely  finished — Every  precaution  was  used  to  prevent, 
any  inteligence  of  these  transactions  from  geting  to  the  enimy. 
— In  the  meantime  Hadokam  bro't  into  the  field  seven  thous- 
and more  of  his  warriors,  men  of  brave  hearts  and  valiant  for 
the  Battle — The  indignant  King  of  the  Kentucks  by  this  time 
had  assembled  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  men  who  were 
ready  at  the  risk  of  their  lives  to  vindicate  the  pre-eminance 
of  their  nation  and  the  transcendent  dignity  of  their  king  & 
his  chiefs — [Had  of  this]  At  the  head  of  this  army  Bombal 
began  his  march  to  execute  his  threatned  vengance  on  the 
Siotans — As  he  entered  their  country  he  found  the  viliges 
deserted  &  all  the  movable  property  conveyed  away — Not  a 
man,  [or  worn]  to  be  seen  until  he  came  in  view  of  the  army  of 
Hadokam,  who  was  encamped  within  a  small  distance  of  the 
Canal. — Bombal  halted  and  formed  his  men  in  two  Ranks 
extending  from  the  river  to  the  hill — He  had  a  reserved  core, 
who  were  placed  in  the  rear  of  the  main  body — Having  thus 
arranged  them  for  battle,  he  went  from  one  wing  to  the  other 
— proclaiming  aloud,  we  have  been  insulted,  brave  soldiers,  by 


38  THE 

these  cowardly  Siotaiis— They  have  assumed  the  blue  Feather, 
the  badge  of  our  preeminance  &  exalted  dignity — Behold  it 
flying  in  their  Caps — will  your  high  born  souls  submit  to 
behold  such  Dastards  place  themselvs  on  equal  ground  with 
you — No  my  valiant  warriors,  let  us  re veng  the  insult  by  the 
destruction  of  their  puny  army  &  the  conflagration  of  their 
City — Make  a  furious  charge  upon  them— &  the  victory  is 
ours —Let  your  motto  be  the  blue  Feather  &  you  will  fight 
like  wolvs  robed  of  their  puppies. — Hadoram  had  by  this  time 
formed  his  army  in  order  of  Battle  close  to  the  edge  of  the 
Canal  &  extended  them  only  in  one  rank  from  the  River  to  the 
Hill. — As  the  Kentucks  approached  within  a  small  distance, 
the  Sciotans  gave  back  &  began  a  retreat  with  apparent  confu- 
sion, notwithstanding  the  pretended  exertions  of  the  King  & 
his  officers  to  prevent  their  retreating — Bombal  observing  this 
commanded  to  rush  forward  on  the  full  run  but  to  keep  their 
Ranks  in  order — This  they  instantly  obeyed  as  one  man  &  as 
soon  as  their  feet  stept  on  the  slender  covering  of  the  canal  it 
gave  way  &  they  fell  to  the  bottom,  some  in  one  position  and 
some  in  another — A  disaster  so  novel  &  unexpected  must  have 
appalled  the  stoutest  heart  &  filled  their  minds  with  amase- 
ment  &  terror.— Nor  did  this  complete  the  misfortune  of  the 
army  of  Bombal — an  ambush  of  the  Sciotans,  who  lay  on  the 
side  of  the  hill  opposite  to  the  reserved  Corps  of  the  Kentucks, 
rushed  down  upon  them  in  an  instant — Surprise  &  terror  pre- 
vented resistance —they  threw  down  their  arms  &  surrendered 
— The  retreating  army  of  Hadoram  immediately  returned  with 
shouting  to  the  edge  of  the  Canal — Their  enimies,  who  but  a 
moment  before,  tho't  themselves  invincible  &  certain  of  victory 
were  now  defenceless  &  wholly  in  their  power — Lobaska  was 
present  &  saw  the  success  of  his  stratigem  his  great  soul  dis- 
dianed  revenge  on  an  helpless  &  prostrate  Enimy — he  conjured 
the  Siotans  not  to  shed  one  drop  of  Blood — but  to  be  gener- 
ous &  merciful — Bombal  had  now  recovered  from  his  surprise 
&  seeing  the  deplorable  situation  of  his  army,  his  haughty 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  39 

soul  felt  the  keenest  anguish— Where  says  he  is  the  King  of 
the  Siotans?— Here  I  am  says  Hadoram — what  is  your 
request  my  Brother?  Reduced  says  he  by  a  Stratagim  the 
most  ingenious  &  artful,  to  a  situation  which  subjects  us 
wholly  under  your  power,  &  in  which  you  can  take  ample 
revenge — I  now  emplore  your  generosity  &  compassion  for  my 
army — Spare  their  lives  — &  then  name  your  terms  &  if  I  can 
comply  with  them,  without  degrading  the  honor  of  my  Crown, 
it  shall  be  done.  Your  request  says  Hadoram  is  granted — 
Surrender  your  arms — &  let  your  army  return  in  peace — As 
for  your  majesty,  &  the  chiefs  of  your  nation,  who  are  present, 
you  will  give  us  the  pleasure  of  your  company  in  our  return 
to  the  city  of  Tolanga,  &  there  we  will  execute  a  treaty  of 
peace  &  amity  that  shall  be  advantageous  &  honourable  to  both 
nations. — These  terms  were  accepted,  &  the  Kentucks  returned 
in  peace  to  their  own  country,  not  to  describe  exploit, 
&  bloody  victories,  but  the  curious  Stratigim  of  Lobaska — 
The  two  Kings  &  their  splendid  Retinue  of  princes,  having 
arived  at  Tolanga — [every  attention  was  paid  by  Hodaram  $  his 
chiefs  to  their  honorable  visitors.]  Hodaram  made  a  sumptuous 
entertainment  at  which  all  were  present — The  next  day  both 
parties  met  for  the  purpose  of  agreeing  to  terms  of  peace  & 
perpetual  amity —What  are  your  terms  says  Bombal — Lobaska 
says  Hodaram  shall  be  our  Arbitrator — He  shall  name  the 
terms — his  wisdom  will  dictate  nothing  which  will  be  dishon- 
erable  to  either  party.  Your  proposal,  says  Bombal  is  gener- 
ous Lobaska  shall  be  our  Arbitrator — Lobaska  then  rose — 
Attend  says  he,  to  my  words  ye  princes  of  Siota  &  Kentuck. 
You  have  all  derived  your  existence  from  the  great  father  of 
Spirits — You  are  his  children^  belong  to  his  great  family— 
Why  then  have  you  thirsted  for  each  others  Blood  for  the 
Blood  of  Brethren — &  [what  has~]  what  has  produced  this 
mighty  war — A  blue  feather,  a  badge  of  preeminence.  It  is 
pride,  it  is  cursed  ambition  &  avarice  which  devastate  the 
world  &  produce  rivers  of  human  Blood — &  the  wars  which 


40 

take  place  among  nations  generally  originate  from  as  trifling 
causes  as  the  blue  feathers. 

Let  this  be  [the  first  article  of  ]  your  treaty  that  any  person 
may  wear  a  blue  feather  in  his  Cap — or  any  other  feather  that 
.  he  pleases. — [Let  this  be  second,]  that  the  individuals  of  each 
nation  may  carry  on  a  commerce  with  each  other — &  that  they 
shall  be  protected  in  their  persons  and  property.  [Let  this  be 
the  third]  that  I  shall  be  at  liberty  to  establish  [a  school  or] 
schools  in  any  part  of  the  domains  of  Kentuck  &  furnish  them 
[such]  instructors  [as  I  please] — That  none  shall  be  restrained 
from  hearing  our  instructions — &  that  we  shall  be  patronized 
&  protected  by  the  King  &  his  chiefs — [Let  this  be  the  fourth]— 
that  perpetual  peace  &  amity  shall  remain  between  botli 
nations — And  as  a  pledge  for  the  fulfilment  of  th*ese  articles, 
on  the  part  of  the  princes  of  Kentuck — that  the  eldest  son  of 
the  King  &  four  sons  of  the  principal  Chiefs'  shall  be  left  as 
hostiges  in  this  City  for  [the  term  of]  Term  of  three  years. 
These  terms  met  the  cordial  approbation  of  both  parties  & 
were  ratified  in  the  most  solemn  manner — 

[  Thus  happy,  was  the  termination  of  the  war,  about  the  blue 
feather,  [having  taken  place]  Lobaska  proceeded  with  indefatigable 
industry  &  perseverance  in  his  benevolent  scheme  of  enlightening  cC 
reforming  mankind. — ] 

And  how  happy  would  it  be  for  mankind,  if  all  wars 
about  as  trifling  causes  as  this,  might  terminate  in  the  same 
way  The  benevolent  mind  of  Lobaska  soared  above  trifles — 
viewing  all  mankind  as  brothers  &  sisters  he  wished  the  hap- 
piness of  all. — Hence  he  made  provision  in  the  Treaty  with  the 
Kentucks  for  the  introduction  of  Scools  [in  Kentuck]  among 
them  This  was  the  first  step,  which  he  foresaw  would  intro- 
duce improvements  in  agriculture  &  the  mechanical  arts — 
produce  a  reformation  in  their  morals  &  religious  principals  & 
a  happy  revolution  in  some  part  of  their  political  institutions. 

Bombal  had  became  so  captivated  with  Lobaska  that  he 
solicited  him  to  bear  him  company  to  his  own  dominions — He 


41 

consented  &  when  he  had  arived  at  the  royal  City  of  Gamba, 
which  is  situate  on  the  River  Kentuck — he  there  pursued  the 
same  course  which  he  had  done  at  Tolanga  &  his  success 
answered  his  most  sanguine  expectations:  The  people  were 
now  prepared  for  the  introduction  of  a  school — He  returned 
back  [to  Tolanga]  &  sent  his  second  son  &  three  of  the  most 
forward  scollars  of  the  Sciotans  to  establish  a  school  at  Gamba 
— \_In  the  mean  time  his  intention  was  to  make  some  amendments  in 
the  government  of  Sciota. — But  as  there  were  several  Cities  and  a 
great  number  of  viliges,  that  acknowledged  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Sciotan  King,which  still  were  ignorant  of  the  principles  $  doctrines 
ivhich  he  taught — he  found  it  necessary  to  visit  them  $  to  introduce 
instructors  amongst  them.  In  this  work  he  was  engaged  about  two 
years — £  the  happy  effect  of  his  labours  were  now  visible  in  various 
kinds  of  improvements  &  in  the  reformation  of  manners,  morals  $ 
religion.  The  way  was  now  prepared  to  introduce  his  system  of 
government — The  chiefs  of  the  nation  were  invited  to  attend  a  grand 
council  at  Tolanga —  When  they  were  met — Lobaska  rose — &  pre- 
sented them  with  the  following  constitution  of  goverment — 

[The  king  of  Siota  shall  bv  stiled  the  Emperor  of  Ohson  £  the 
King  of  Siota— His  croivn  shall  be  hereditary  in  the  oldest  male 
heir  of  his  family — The  cities  &  vilages  who  now  acknowledged  his 
jurisdiction  or  who  may  hereafter  do  it  shall  be  entitled  to  protection 
from  the  emperor — If  invaded  by  an  enimy  he  shall  defend  them 
ivith  the  force  of  the  empire — once  every  year  the  chiefs  shall  meet 
at  Tolanga  to  make  laws  for  the  good  of  the  nation. — ] 

These  young  men  having  imbibed  the  spirit  &  principles  of 
the  great  preceptor,  spared  no  exertions  to  instruct  the  scholars 
&  to  defuse  useful  knowledge  among  the  people — The  happy 
effects  of  their  labours  were  visible  in  a  short  time.  The 
people  embraced  the  religion  of  Lobaska  &  became  more 
industrious  &  civilized.  In  their  various  improvements  in 
agriculture,  the  mechanical  arts  &  literature  they  even  exsaled 
the  Sciotans  &  appeared  to  be  as  prosperous  &  flourishing — 
Even  Bombal  himself  declared  that  the  termination  of  the 


42 

war  about  the  blue  feather — which  at  first  appeared  unfor- 
tunate yet  as  it  occationed  such  happy  effects  among  his  people 
it  gave  him  more  satisfaction  &  pleasure  than  [the  reputation  of 
being  a  great  Conqueror]  what  he  could  have  received  from  the 
reputation  of  being  a  great  conqueror. 


CHAP.    IX 

Goverment  &  money 

The  people  who  were  denominated  Ohians,  were  setled  on 
both  sides  of  the  River  Ohio — &  along  the  various  branches  of 
the  River — The  settlements  extended  a  great  distance  in  the 
time  of  Lobaska — but  how  far  it  is  not  mentioned  They  lived 
in  compact  viliges  or  towns — [We might  except  the  Cities  Tolanga 
on  the  river  Sciota  &  Gamba  on  the  River  Kentuck — These  various 
viliges  or  towns  formed  independant  Soveranties — &  were  gov- 
erned by  their  respective  chiefs — ] 

Excepting  the  Cities  of  Tolanga  &  Gamba  —whose  Kings 
claimed  jurisdiction  over  an  extent  of  country  about  one 
hundred  &  fifty  miles  along  the  River  Ohio  &  about  the  same 
distance  back  from  the  river,  the  remaining  part  of  this  exten- 
sive country  was  setled  in  compact  viliges  or  towns.  These 
formed  independent  sovereigties  &  were  governed  by  their 
respective  Chiefs.  Frequent  bickerings,  contentions  and  wars 
took  place  among  these  Chiefs,  which  were  often  attended  with 
pernicious  consequencies.  To  remidy  these  evils  &  to  facilitate 
&  accomplish  the  great  &  benevolent  plan  of  reforming  & 
civilizing  the  Ohians,  Lobaska  had  formed  a  system  of  Govern- 
ment, with  a  design  of  establing  two  great  empires — one  on 
each  side  of  the  River  Ohio. — Their  [different]  constitutions 
were  on  the  same  plan — &  were  presented  by  the  hand  of 
Lobaska  to  the  respective  Kings  of  Sciota  &  Kentuck — 

The  Sciotan  Constitution  was   comprised   in   the   words. 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  43 

The  country  east  of  the  great  River  Ohio  shall  form  the 
Empire  of  Sciota — At  the  head  of  this  empire  shall  be  placed 
with  the  title  of  Emperor  Labarmack  the  oldest  son  of  Lobaska 
— The  office  shall  be  hereditary  in  the  eldest  male  of  his 
family — He  and  his  sons  successively  shall  mary  natives  of 
the  kingdom  of  Sciota: — &  all  their  daughters  shall  mary 
within  their  own  dominions.  He  shall  have  four  counsellors — 
He  with  the  advice  of  his  Councellors  shall  have  the  exclusive 
right  of  making  war  &  peace  &  of  forming  treaties  with  other 
nations — He  shall  be  commander  in  chief  of  all  the  forces — & 
the  King  of  Sciota.  shall  be  next  to  him — All  controversies 
between  the  Rulers  or  chiefs  of  the  different  tribes  shall  be 
refered  to  the  descicion  of  him  &  his  Councellors — &  he  is 
authorised  to  compel  a  compliance — He  shall  hold  his  settings 
annually  in  four  different  parts  of  the  empire.  The  King  of 
Sciota  &  the  chiefs  of  the  different  tribes  shall  hold  their  offices 
&  exercise  the  same  authority  in  civil  matters  that  they  have 
done— They  shall  be  ameniable  to  the  emperor  &  his  councel- 
lors,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  enquire  into  all  complaints 
against  them  from  their  subjects,  &  to  redress  grievances  & 
punish  for  oppression  &  injustice  by  fines. — He  and  his  coun- 
cellors  shall  have  the  exclusive  priviledge  of  coining  money— 
They  may  likewise  lay  taxes  for  the  support  of  goverment 
&  for  the  defence  of  the  nation. — They  shall  coin  no  more 
money  than  what  is  necessary  for  the  convenience  of  the 
people  &  in  such  quantity  only  that  the  value  shall  not  depre- 
ciate—he shall  appoint  the  officers  of  his  army  —except  where 
the  chiefs  chuse  to  command  their  own  subjects — in  that  case 
they  shall  be  subject  to  the  command  of  the  Emperor  The 
people  in  every  city,  town  or  village  shall  respectively  chuse 
one  or  more  Censors — whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  enquire  into 
all  mal-conduct  of  Rulers — &  all  vicious  &  improper  conduct  of 
the  preists  &  the  people — &  they  shall  pursue  such  measures 
to  obtain  justice  &  to  produce  a  reformation  of  morals  in  the 
offenders  as  the  laws  shall  direct. 


44 

In  order  that  the  priests  &  instructors  of  learning  may 
know  and  perform  their  duty  for  the  benefit  of  civilization, 
morality  &  religion.  Lambon  the  third  son  of  Lobaska  shall 
preside  over  them  &  shall  have  the  title  of  high  Priest —  &  the 
office  shall  be  hereditary  in  the  eldest  males  of  his  family  suc- 
cessively— There  shall  be  associated  with  him  four  priests  as 
his  assistants — they  shall  exercise  a  jurisdiction  over  all  the 
priests  of  the  empire  &  shall  see  that  they  faithfully  perform 
the  duties  of  their  office—  They  shall  attend  to  the  instructors  of 
Learning — &  shall  direct  that  a  suitable  number  are  provided 
thro'out  the  empire — It  shall  likewise  be  their  duty  at  all  suit- 
able times  &  places  to  instruct  Rulers  &  people  in  the  duties 
of  their  respective  stations — &  to  labour  incessantly  to  per- 
suade mankind  to  subject  their  passions  &  appetites  under  the 
government  of  Reason — that  they  may  secure  happiness  to 
themselves  in  this  life — &  imortal  happiness  beyond  the  grave. 
— The  people  shall  make  contributions,  in  proportion  to  their 
wealth  for  the  support  of  their  priests — If  any  refuse,  they 
shall  be  denied  the  privilege  of  their  instructions — &  shall  be 
subjected  to  the  ridecule  &  contempt  of  the  people. — For  the 
convenience  of  the  people  &  for  the  easy  support  of  the  gov- 
erment,  it  is  necessary  that  there  should  be  something  which 
shall  represent  property — &  which  is  of  small  weight.  It  is 
therefore  provided  that  certain  small  pieces  of  iron — stamped 
in  a  peculiar  manner,  shall  be  this  circulating  medium,  to  rep- 
resent property — Each  peice  according  to  its  particular  stamp 
shall  have  a  certain  value  fixed  upon  it. — It  shall  be  the  pecu- 
liar prerogative  of  the  Emperor  &  his  councellors  to  direct  the 
coining  of  these  peices — which  shall  be  denominated  money- 
No  more  money  shall  be  coined  than  what  will  be  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  empire — Nor  shall  the  Emperor  or  his  Counsellors 
receive  any  more  of  it,  than  an  adequate  compensation  for 
their  services. — They  shall  keep  an  account  of  the  amount  of 
money  coined  annually  &  the  manner  in  which  it  has  been 
distributed  &  expended.  This  amount  shall  be  submitted  to 


45 

the  examination  of  the  King  of  Siota  &  the  chiefs  of  the 
empire.  The  Emperor  shall  always  be  ready  to  receive  the  peti- 
tions &  complaints  of  his  subjects — He  shall  consult  the  welfare 
of  his  people  &  save  them  from  oppression  &  tyranny — &  by 
his  beneficent  acts  shall  gain  their  affection  &  obtain  the  apala- 
tion  of  a  just,  a  good  &  gracious  Prince. — 

When  Hadoram  king  of  Sciota  had  received  this  plan  of 
government,  he  immediately  assembled  all  the  Chiefs  or  princes 
within  his  kingdom  Lobaska  pointed  out  the  defects  of  the 
existing  goverment,  &  the  excellences  of  that  form  which  he  pre- 
sented for  their  acceptance — His  reasons  could  not  be  resisted — 
they  unanimously  agreed  to  establish  it  as  their  constitution  of 
Goverment.  Labamack  accepted  the  office  of  Emperor,  &  his 
four  counsellors  were  appointed — Lambon  was  ordained  High 
priest  &  his  four  assistance  chosen — The  new  goverment  was 
now  put  in  opperation — The  various  tribes  living  contiguous 
to  the  empire  seeing  its  prosperity  sollicited  the  priviledge  of 
being  received  as  parts  of  the  empire — Their  requests  were 
granted.  Improvement  .&  prosperity  attended  them — This 
induced  other  contiguous  Tribes  to  request  the  same  priviledge 
— &  others  still  adjoining  them  came  forward  with  their  peti- 
tions, all  were  granted  &  the  s.ame  regulations  established  in 
every  part — Within  about  three  years  from  the  first  establish- 
ment of  the  empire  Lobaska  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  his  son 
reign  over  a  territory  of  more  than  four  hundred  miles  in 
length  along  the  River  Ohio — &  of  beholding  a  nation  rapidly 
progressing  from  a  state  of  barbarism,  ignorance  &  wretched- 
ness to  a  state  of  civilization  knowledge  &  prosperity — 

Having  now  beheld  the  happy  success  of  his  experiment 
at  Sciota,  Lobaska  made  a  second  viset  to  Bambo  king  of  Ken- 
tuck.  His  second  son  whose  name  was  Hamback  was  present 
at  the  City  of  Gamba.  His  youngest  son  Kato  attended  him — 
He  made  known  his  plan  of  revolution  to  Bambo  who 
cordially  acquiesed — &  calling  together  his  princes — they 
unimously  agreed  to  place  Hamback  on  the  throne  of  the 


46 


THE 


empire  south  of  the  Ohio  River — &  to  ordain  Kato  as  their 
high  priest — With  the  exception  of  names  &  places  the  Con- 
stitution of  goverment  was  the  same  as  that  which  the  Sciotans 
adopted — The  same  measures  were  pursued  to  ensure  its 
sucess — A  great  &  flourishing  empire  arose — &  barbarous  tribes 
connecting  themselves  with  the  empire  &  under  the  fostering 
care  of  the  goverment  became  civilized  wealty  &  prosperous. — 

Thus  within  the  term  of  twelve  years  from  the  arival  of 
Lobaska  at  Tolanga,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  beholding  the 
great  &  benevolent  objects  which  he  had  in  view  accomplished 
—He  still  continued  his  useful  Labours — &  was  the  great 
Oricle  of  both  empires — His  advise  &  sentiments  were  taken 
upon  all  important  subjects — &  no  one  ventured  to  controvert 
his  opinions — He  lived  to  behold  the  successful  experiment  of 
his  institutions — &  to  see  them  acquire  that  strength  &  firm- 
ness as  not  easily  to  be  overthrown.  Having  acquired  that 
renown  &  glory  which  are  beyond  the  reach  of  envy  &  which 
aspiring  ambition  would  dispair  of  attaining — at  the  age  of 
Eighty  he  bade  an  affectionate  adue  to  two  empires  &  left  them 
to  lament  in  tears  his  exit. 

These  two  empires  continued  to  progress  in  their  improv- 
ments  &  population  $  to  rival  each  other  in  prosperity  during 
the  reign  of  Ten  successive  Emperors  on  the  Throne  of  Sciota 
— Peace  &  harmony  &  a  friendly  intercourse  existed  between 
them — No  wars  took  place  to  disturb  their  tranquility  except 
what  arose  from  the  surrounding  Savages,  who  sometimes  dis- 
turbed the  frontiers  in  a  hostile  manner  for  the  sake  of  gaining 
plunder.  But  these  attacks  were  generally  repelled  &  defeated 
without  much  loss  of  blood — They  were  in  fact  of  such  trifling 
consequence  as  to  make  no  perceptible  impediment  to  prevent 
the  population,  improvement  or  prosperity  of  both  Empires — 
&  happy jthrice  happy  would  it  have  been  for  them,  if  they 
had  still  continued  to  have  pursued  the  amiable  &  benevolent 
principles  which  first  marked  the  commencement  &  progress 
of  their  institutions 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  47 


CHAT— X 

Military  arrangements.    Amusements.     Customs.     Extent  of  the  Empire. 

Forts. 

The  Customs  &  amusements  of  a  Nation  evince  the  state 
of  Society  which  exists  among  the  people — When  the  two 
Empires  of  Sciota  &  Kentuck  had  commenced  their  new 
career  on  the  plan  which  was  formed  by  Lobaska — they  adopted 
this  as  a  true  maxim,  that  to  avoid  war  it  was  necessary  to  be 
in  constant  preparation  for  it. — It  was  the  wise  policy  of  the 
two  goverments  to  make  such  military  arrangements  as  never 
to  be  surprized  by  an  enimy  unprepared.  In  every  city,  town 
&  vilage  the  people  were  required  to  provide  military  impli- 
ments  &  to  deposit  them  in  a  secure  place.  These  magizines 
were  to  contain  a  sufficient  quantity  of  arms  to  furnish  every 
man  who  should  be  destitute — \_In  order  that  every  man  might 
have  sufficient  skill  to  use  them  to  advantage,  great  pains  was  taken 
to  prepare  him  by  teaching  him  the  art  of  war.~]  The  knowledge 
of  military  tackticks  as  it  was  then  attainable,  was  likewise 
defused  among  the  people. — Young  men  from  sixteen  to 
twenty  years  old,  were  required  to  take  the  field  four  times  in 
each  year,  &  to  spend  sixteen  days  during  each  time  in  learn- 
ing the  military  art  &  in  building  fortifications — And  every 
able  bodied  man  was  required  to  spend  eight  days  in  each 
year  in  the  same  employment. — In  consequence  of  these  regu- 
lations a  revalship  existed  among  the  different  sexions  of  the 
empires  to  exceed  each  other  in  ski^l  &  dexterity  in  miletery 
manoevers — Hence  it  was  a  general  custom  in  every  part  of 
the  country  for  different  bodies  of  men  to  meet — [to  engage  in 
feigned  Battles']  once  every  year,  in  order  to  make  a  display  of 
their  improvements  in  the  art  of  war— Primeurns  were  given 


48 

to  those  who  were  the  most  expert  in  shooting  the  arrow  or  in 
managing  the  spear  &  the  sword. 

Their  Amusements  were  generally  of  the  athletick  kind 
— calculated  to  improve  their  agility  &  strength — &  prepare 
them  for  warriors.  Wrestling,  slinging  &  throwing  stones  at 
marks — leaping  ditches  &  fences  &  climbing  trees  and  prici- 
pices  were  some  of  their  most  favorite  diversions — And  as  they 
took  great  pains  to  perfect  themselves  in  these  exercises  it 
would  astonish  spectators  of  other  nations  to  observe  the  im- 
provement they  had  made  in  the  extraordinary  feats  of  agility 
&  strength  which  they  exhibited. — 

Other  diversions,  which  had  no  tendency  to  fit  them  for 
war,  they  seldom  practised,  except  when  in  the  company  of 
women — Being  taught  by  their  religion  the  social  virtues  they 
manifested  a  great  regard  for  the  rights  of  the  other  sex  & 
always  treated  them  with  attention,  civility  &  tenderness — 
Hence  it  was  curious  to  observe  that  [when  in  the  company  of 
women]  they  easily  exchanged  the  [warriors']  ruged  [&  bold] 
attitude  of  the  bold  warrior  for  the  complasant  [&  tender] 
deportment  of  the  affectionate  galant — The  amusements  which 
were  pleasing  to  the  female  mind  were  equally  pleasing  to  the 
men  whenever  they  held  their  social  meetings  for  recreation. — 
These  meetings  were  frequent  among  the  younger  class  of  Citi- 
zens, whether  married  or  single — Various  kinds  of  amuse- 
ments would  frequently  be  introduced  at  such  times  for  their 
mutual  entertainment — but  that  which  held  the  most  con- 
spicuous place  was  dancing — But  their  manner  of  dancing  was 
different  from  that  of  the  polished  Europians. — Gracefulness 
&  easy  attitude  were  not  so  much  studied  in  their  rnovments 
as  sprightliness  &  agility — those  tunes  which  admited  the 
greatest  display  of  activity  and  sprightliness  were  generally 
the  most  [pleasing  &]  fashionable — Hence  those  Bodies  were 
formed  for  the  quickest,  if  they  keept  time  with  the  music  were 
the  most  admired. — 

In  small  assemblies  it  was  fashionable  to  amuse  them- 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  49 

selves  [ivitJi]  at  playing  with  peices  of  parchment — This  they 
denominated  the  Bird  Play.  Each  peice  was  of  an  oval  form 
&  of  convenient  length  &  width — &  on  each  one  is  portraied 
the  likeness  of  a  Bird — All  the  birds  of  Prey  that  came  within 
their  knowledge,  have  the  honour  of  being  represented  on 
these  peices  of  Parchment — On  the  other  peices  are  portraied 
other  Birds  of  different  kinds— The  whole  number  of  the 
peices  amount  to  about  sixty — These  are  promiscuously  placed 
in  a  pack  &  dealt  of  to  the  company  of  Players  whose  number 
does  not  exceed  six — The  person  then,  who  has  the  greatest 
number  of  carniverous  Birds — by  a  dextrous  managment, 
may  catch  the  greatest  number  of  the  other  Birds — &  thus 
obtain  the  victory. — 

During  these  enter view^s  of  the  different  sexes — &  even  in 
their  common  intercourse  with  each  other  they  are  always  very 
cheerful  &  sociable  &  often  display  that  fondness  &  familiarity, 
which  in  Europe,  would  be  considered  indicative  of  a  lacivi- 
ous  character — but  in  this  country  are  considered  as  harmless, 
as  what  good  manners  required. — Nothing  rude,  nothing  in- 
decent or  immodest  according  to  their  ideas  of  the  meaning  of 
these  terms,  are  admissible  in  company — &  absolute  lacivious- 
ness  Avould  meet  the  most  severe  reprehension. — 

When  a  young  man  wishes  to  settle  himself  in  a  family 
state,  he  proclaims  it  by  wearing  a  red  feather  in  his  Cap. 
This  is  considered  as  an  admonition  to  the  young  women,  who 
would  not  receive  him  for  a  husband  to  avoid  his  company — 
whereas  those  whose  inclinations  towards  him  are  more  favour- 
able admit  his  attention — from  this  number  he  selects  one  as 
the  object  of  his  addresses — He  obtains  an  interview  &  pro- 
poses a  courtship — If  the  proposition  accords  with  her  wishes, 
they  then  agree  on  a  time,  when  he  shall  make  known  the 
affair  to  her  parents  —whose  approbation  being  obtained  he  is 
then  permitted  to  visit  her  ten  times  in  sixty  days.  At  the 
expiration  of  this  time,  the  bargain  for  matrimony  must  be 
finished.  Otherwise  there  must  be  a  final  termination  or  a 


50 

postponement  of  the  courtship  for  the  term  of  one  year:  [The 
parties  are  at  liberty,  during  the  postponement  to]  But  if  the  par- 
ties are  pleased  with  each  other,  the  contract  is  made  &  the 
time  for  the  performance  of  the  nuptial  cerimonies  is 
appointed — An  entertainment  is  provided — friends  are  invited 
— &  the  Bridegroom  &  Bride  present  themselves  in  their  best 
apparal — The  company  form  a  circle  &  they  take  their  stand 
in  the  center— The  father  of  the  Bride  speaks,  For  what 
purpose  do  you  present  yourselves — They  answer,  to  join 
hands  in  wedlock,  Our  hearts  are  already  joined  &  we  have 
made  a  solem  covenant  to  be  true  and  faithful  to  each  other — 
The  company  then  all  exclaim — "Blessings  will  attend  you,  if 
ye  fulfil — but  curses  if  ye  transgress. — They  are  then  con- 
ducted to  a  log  round  which,  a  Rope  is  tied — The  Bridegroom 
takes  hold  of  one  end  of  the  rope  &  the  Bride  the  other— & 
being  commanded  to  draw  the  Log  into  the  house,  they  pull 
in  opposite  directions  with  all  their  might.  Having  worried 
themselves  for  some  time  to  no  purpose,  to  the  great  diversion 
of  the  company,  the  parents  of  both  parties  step  forward — & 
giving  them  a  severe  reprimand  command  them  to  draw  in  the 
same  direction — They  instantly  obey — &  the  Log  is  easily 
drawn  to  its  destined  place.  The  rest  of  the  time  is  spent  with 
great  chearfulness  &  merriment, — They  partake  of  the  enter- 
tainment &  conclude  with  customary  amusements. — 

The  Bridegroom  &  Bride  are  now  desirous  to  form  a  fam- 
ily by  themselves  —If  their  parents  are  of  sufficient  ability 
they  furnish  them  with  a  convenient  house  and  such  furniture 
as  will  be  required  for  family  use  &  such  other  property  as 
they  need,  to  enable  them  to  obtain  a  comfortable  living.  But 
if  their  parents  are  poor  they  receive  assistance  and  contribu- 
tions from  relations  &  neighbours  &  are  placed  in  such  a  situa- 
tion that  with  proper  industry  &  econimy,  they  can  live  above 
indigence  &  enjoy  life  agreeably.  At  the  time  they  enter  their 
new  habitation,  they  are  attended  by  a  Priest  &  by  their  rela- 
tion &  friends— They  kneel  in  the  center  of  the  Room — &  the 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  51 

priest  places  his  right  hand  on  the  head  of  the  Bridegroom  & 
his  left  on  the  head  of  the  Bride — After  explaining  &  enjoining 
in  the  most  solemn  manner,  the  various  duties  of  the  marriage 
state  he  concludes  his  injunctions  with  these  words — My  dear 
children,  I  conjure  you,  [as  you  regard  your  own  peace  &  felicity 
— as  you  would  wish  to  acquire  wealth  &  respectibility—&  set  an 
example  worthy  of  emitation,  that  as  you  are  now  yoked  together'] 
to  draw  in  the  same  direction.  They  then  rise  and  he  presents 
each  with  a  peice  of  Parchment  on  which  is  written — Draw  in 
the  same  direction.  All  the  duties  of  the  conjugal  state,  in 
their  opinion,  are  comprized  in  this  [injunction^  Command. 

[As  the  Priests  &  the  Censors  were  [vigilent  &  careful]  to  see 
that  parents  restrained  the  vices  of  their  children  &  instructed  them 
in  the  knowledge  of  their  religious  principles — the  effects  were  very 
conspicuous  Parents'] — 

Having  been  early  taught  to  [restrain  the~]  govern  their 
passions  &  to  regard  the  practice  of  virtue  as  their  greatest 
good,  it  was  generally  the  case,  that  love,  friendship  & 
harmony  existed  in  families,  [&  when  parents  were  treated 
by  their  children  withgre  at  tenderness  &  respect — ]  Parents 
manifested  an  anxious  sollicitude  for  the  future  welfare  & 
respectability  of  their  Children, — &  in  their  turn  children 
treated  their  parents  with  respect  &  reverance. — Nor  did  they 
forsake  them  in  old  age— but  provided  liberally  for  their  sup- 
port— But  we  are  not  to  suppose  that  in  the  most  virtuous  age 
of  the  nation,  all  were  virtuous — Far  from  this.  But  with 
such  punctual  exactness  were  the  laws  executed,  in  the  most 
prosperous  state  of  the  nation,  that  vice  &  impiety  had  but 
few  advocates  &  the  wicked  were  ashamed  of  their  own  char- 
acters.—Tho'  every  vice  was  prohibited  by  Law,  yet  the  penal- 
ties were  not  severe — Murder  alone  v/as  punished  with  death — 
with  respect  to  other  Laws,  they  were  calculated  to  wound  the 
pride  of  &  ambition  of  the  transgressor,  &  produce  shame  & 
regret — 
.  Adultery  is  punished  by  obliging  the  culprit  to  were  a 


52 

pair  of  Elk-horns  on  his  shoulders  six  days  &  to  walk  thro'  the 
city  or  vilage  once  each  day,  at  which  times  the  boys  are  at 
liberty  to  pelt  him  with  rotten  eggs. — The  theif  is  compelled 
to  make  ample  restitution — For  the  third  offence  he  is  covered 
with  tar  &  feathers  &  exhibited  as  a  specticle  for  laughter  & 
ridicule.  Pugilists  or  boxers,  if  they  are  equally  to  blame  for 
fighting  are  yoked  together  at  least  one  day — &  in  this  situa- 
tion are  presented  to  the  view  of  the  multitude.  They  must 
were  the  yoke  until  the  quarrel  is  setled.  Such  being  the 
nature  of  their  penal  Laws  &  such  the  punctuality  of  execut- 
ing the  penalties  on  offenders,  that  crimes  were  far  less  free- 
quent  in  this  country  than  in  Europe  where  the  Laws  are 
more  severe — &  offenders  more  often  escape  punishment. 
Tho'  learning,  civilization  &  refinement  had  not  arived  to  that 
state  of  perfection  in  which  they  exist  in  a  great  part  of  the 
Roman  Empire — yet  the  two  Empires  of  Sciota  &  Ken  tuck  dur- 
ing their  long  period  of  peace  &  prosperity  were  not  less  happy. 
As  luxery  &  extravigance  were  scarcely  known  to  exist, 
especially  among  the  common  people,  [an  happy  equality  was] 
hence  there  was  a  great  similarity  in  their  manner  of  living, 
their  dress,  their  habits  &  manners. — Pride  was  not  bloated  <fe 
puffed  up  with  enormous  wealth — Nor  had  envy  fewel  to 
inflame  her  hatred  &  malice — As  the  two  empires  were  not 
displeased  with  each  others  prosperity  &  happiness  —  [&  the 
two  goverments  had  no  thirst]  nor  jealous  of  each  others  power — 
&  as  the  goverments  were  not  infected  with  a  thirst  for  con- 
quest peace  of  consequence  waved  her  olive  branch  &  the 
maligant  passions  lay  dormant — As  avarice  &  corruption  did 
not  contaminate  the  ruling  powers  nor  bribery  infect  the  seats 
of  justice  the  people  felt  secure  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  rights, 
&  desirous  to  raise  up  families  to  partake  of  the  same  blessings 
which  they  enjoyed.— 

We  can  now  trace  the  causes  of  their  increase  &  prosperity. 
To  a  religion,  which  presented  powerful  motives  to  restrain 
vice  &  impiety,  &  encourage  virtue — To  the  defusion  of  a  com- 


53 

petant  share  of  learning  &  knowlege  to  enable  the  people  to 
understand  their  rights  &  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  social  inter- 
course— To  the  establishment  of  political  institutions,  which 
garded  property  &  life  against  oppression  injustice  &  tyranny 
— to  the  knowledge  which  the  people  obtained  of  agriculture 
&  the  mechanical  arts  &  their  habits  of  industry  &  economy— 
To  the  mild  nature  of  their  laws  &  the  certainty  of  executing 
the  penalties  upon  transgressors — &  to  such  an  equality  of 
property  as  to  prevent  the  pride  of  wealth  &  the  extravagance 
of  luxury — To  such  causes  may  be  ascribed  the  rapid  increase 
of  population  &  the  contentment  &  felicity  which  extended 
thro'  every  of  the  country. — We  might  add  likewise  the  long 
peace  that  continued  &  the  friendly  intercourse  that  existed 
between  the  two  rival  Empires — A  peace  which  had  no  inter- 
ruption for  the  term  of  near  five  hundred  years — During  this 
time  their  vilages  &  cities  were  greatly  enlarged — new  settle- 
ments were  formed  in  every  part  of  the  country  which  had 
not  been  inhabited — &  a  vast  number  of  towns  were  built — 
which  rivaled  as  to  number  of  inhabitants,  those  which  existed 
at  the  time  their  imperial  goverments  were  founded. — Their 
settlements  extended  the  whole  length  of  the  great  River  Ohio 
to  its  confuence  with  the  Mississippi,  &  over  the  whole  country 
on  both  sides  of  the  Ohio  River,  which  are  watered  by  streams 
which  empty  into  it. — And  also  along  the  great  Lakes  of  Eri  & 
Mishigan  &  even  some  settlements  were  formed  in  some  part 
of  the  country  which  borders  on  Lake  Ontario.— Such  was  the 
vast  extent  of  the  country  which  they  inhabited — &  such  the 
fertility  of  the  soil  that  many  millions  were  easily  fed  &  sup- 
ported with  such  a  plenty  &  competence  of  provision,  as  was 
necessary  for  their  comfort  and  happiness — 

During  the  time  of  their  rising  greatness  &  tranquility 
their  policy  led  them  to  fortify  their  country  in  every  part,  the 
interior  as  well  as  the  frontiers — this  they  did  partly  for  their 
own  safety,  provided  a  war  should  take  place  &  they  should 
be  invaded  by  an  enimy — &  partly  to  keep  alive  [a  military] 


54 

&  improve  a  warlike  spirit  &  the  knowledge  of  military  Tao 
ticks.  Near  every  vilage  or  city  they  constructed  forts  or 
fortifications.  Those  were  generally  of  an  oval  form  &  of 
different  dimentions  according  to  the  number  of  inhabitants 
who  lived  in  the  town. — The  Ramparts  or  walls,  were  formed 
of  dirt  which  was  taken  in  front  of  the  fort.  A  deep  canal  or 
trench  would  likewise  be  formed — This  would  still  encrease 
the  difficulty  of  surmounting  the  walls  in  front. — In  addition 
to  this  they  inserted  a  piece  of  Timber  on  the  top  of  the 
Ramparts — These  peices  were  about  seven  feet  in  length  from 
the  ground  to  top  which  was  sharpned — The  distance  between 
each  peice  was  about  six  inches — thro,  which  they  could  shoot 
their  arrows  against  an  Enirny.  Some  of  their  fortifications 
have  two  Ramparts,  which  run  paralel  with  each  other  built 
in  the  same  manner,  with  a  distance  between  of  about  two  or 
three  perches — Their  Gates  are  strong  &  well  constructed  for 
defence — Within  these  forts  are  likewise  a  number  of  small 
houses -for  the  accomidation  of  the  army  &  inhabitants  in 
case  of  an  invasion — &  likewise  a  storehouse  for  the  reception 
of  provision  &  arms,  A  country  thus  fortified — containing  so 
many  milion  of  inhabitants,  hardy  &  robust  &  with  habits 
formed  for  war — might  well  be  supposed  as  able  to  defend 
themselves  against  an  invading  Enimy — If  they  were  beat 
from  the  frontier,  they  could  still  retreat  back  to  the  fortifica- 
tions in  the  interior  &  their  make  a  succesful  stand  —  But  what 
avails  all  the  wisdom,  the  art  &  the  works  of  men— what  avails 
their  valour,  their  strength  &  numbers  when  the  Almighty  is 
provoked  to  chastise  them  &  to  execute  his  vengence  in  their 
overthrow  &  destruction — 


55 


CHAT    XI— 

As  the  Sciotans  &  Kentucks  had  maintained  with  each 
other  an  unterrupted  peace  &  friendly  intercourse  for  the  space 
of  four  hundred  &  eighty  years,  it  seems  almost  incredible,  that 
a  cause,  which  was  of  no  great  importance  to  either  nation, 
should  excite  their  resentment  against  each  other  &  produce 
all  the  horrors  of  war. — But  such  were  the  unhappy  effects  of 
an  affair,  which  had  no  regard  to  a  single  person,  except  the 
imperial  families  of  the  two  empires  &  the  King  of  Sciota.— 

As  these  families  were  descended  from  the  great  Lobaska, 
they  had,  during  the  reigns  of  all  their  Emperors  been  in  the 
habit  of  visiting  each  other,  but  as  each  Emperor  &  his  chil- 
dren were  required  not  to  marry  out  of  their  respective 
dominions,  no  intermarriages  had  taken  place.  They  however 
claimed  relationship  &  still  continued  to  each  other,  the  appel- 
lation of  our  dearest  &  best  beloved  Cousen. — A  Cousen  of  this 
description,  who  was  the  eldest  son  of  Hamboon  the  Emperor 
of  Kentuck  arived  at  the  City  of  Talanga  with  a  small  but 
splendid  Retinue  of  Friends. — At  that  time  Rambock,  who 
was  the  fourteenth  Emperor,  was  siting  on  the  throne  of 
Siota — He  received  the  young  Prince  with  apparent  sensa- 
tions of  the  highest  pleasure  &  spared  no  pains  to  manifest 
towards  him  by  his  treatment  the  greatest  esteem  and  friend- 
ship. The  Emperor  had  an  only  son,  whose  name  was 
Moonrod  — He  ordered  him  to  attend  the  young  Prince  &  to 
treat  him  with  every  to-  of  affection  &  honour.  They  spent 
their  time  in  receiving  visets  from  the  officers  of  the  gover- 
meiit — in  viewing  curiosities,  &  in  the  assemblies  of  the  first 
class  of  young  citizens  who  met  for  recreation. — Elseon,  for 
this  was  the  name  of  the  young  Prince,  was,  soon  after  his 
arival,  introduced  to  Lamesa,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the 


56  THE 

Emperor — She  was  a  young  Lady  of  a  very  fair  and  beautiful 
countenance.  Her  features  &  the  construction  of  her  person, 
were  formed  to  please  the  fancy,  whilst  the  ease,  the  graceful- 
ness &  modesty  of  her  deportment  were  very  pleasing  to  all 
her  acquaintance — Her  mind  was  replenished  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  knowledge  &  virtue — &  such  was  her  vivacity  &  the 
ease  with  which  she  expressed  her  ideas,  that  all  were  delighted 
with  her  conversation. — No  wonder  that  this  fair  imperial 
damsel  attracted  the  attention  of  Elsion — &  at  their  first 
enterview,  enkindled  a  spark  in  his  boosom — which  he  could 
hardly  prevent  from  being  discovered  thro  his  blushing  coun- 
tenance &  the  embarisment  he  felt  in  conversation.  He  strove 
to  erase  those  tender  impressions  which  she  had  made  on  his 
heart — but  in  vain — every  renewed  enterview  only  served  to 
fix  her  image  deeper  in  his  mind,  £  to  make  the  flame  of  Love 
more  difficult  to  extinguish.  He  reasoned  on  the  obsticles  in 
the  way  of  obtaining  this  young  Lady  for  his  partner — but 
instead  of  cooling  it  only  encreased  the  ardor  of  his  passion  & 
produced  a  resolution,  that  with  the  consent  of  Lamesa, 
nothing  should  prevent  the  attainment  of  his  wishes. — To  a 
mind  thus  ardent,  which  possessed  the  native  courage  resolu- 
tion &  perseverence  of  Elseon,  the  most  gigantic  obsticles 
would  vanish  into  vapour. — Nor  was  it  long  before  lie  found 
that  a  correspondent  passion  was  existed  in  her  breast.  The 
moment  she  first  saw  him  her  heart  palpitated — her  face  was 
covered  with  crimson. — She  turned  her  eyes  &  attempted  to 
speak — her  tongue  stopt  its  motion  in  the  middle  of  a  period — 
She  hamed — sat  down  &  observed  that  she  was  not  well. — A 
discription  of  this  scene  is  painted  by  a  Sciotan  Bard  in  poetic 
numbers— he  represents  the  young  Lady  as  recovering  in  a 
short  time  from  this  state  of  agitation  &  confusion  &  as  being 
afterwards  composed,  &  of  having  a  better  command  of  1  im- 
passions. To  follow  this  Poet  in  the  description  which  he 
gives  of  Elsion,  to  whom  he  attaches  a  countenance  &  figure, 
superior  to  other  mortals — &  qualities  which  produced  uni- 


57 

versal  esteem  &  admiration,  would  not  comport  with  the 
faithful  page  of  history.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  Lamesa  was 
captivated  with  his  person,  &  was  impressed  with  those 
ideas  &  sentiments,  that  her  happiness  fled,  except  when  she 
either  enjoyed  or  aiitisipated  his  company.  After  Elsion  had 
firmly  determined  to  marry  Lamesa  he  was  impatient  for  a 
private  enterview  with  her  to  disclose  his  sentiments — This 
occured  in  a  short  time.  They  were  together  in  one  of  apart- 
ments of  the  Emperors  palace — the  company  had  all  retired. — 
I  have  said  he  in  a  low  voice  to  Lamesa— conceived  that 
opinion  of  you,  that  I  hope  you  will  not  be  displeased  if  I 
express  my  feelings  with  frankness  &  sincerity. — You  must, 
she  replied  be  the  best  judge  of  what  is  proper  for  you  to 
express — I  am  always  pleased  with  sincerity.  As  the  sun,  says 
he  my  dear  Lamesa,  when  he  rises  with  his  radiant  beams 
dispels  the  darkness  of  knight,  so  it  is  in  your  power  to  dispel 
the  clouds  of  anxiety  which  rest  upon  my  soul — The  Crown 
of  Kentuck  will  be  like  a  Rock  upon  my  head,  unless  you  will 
condesend  to  share  with  me  the  glory  &  felicity  of  my  reign. 
Will  you  consent  to  be  my  dearest  friend  &  companion  for  life? 
There  is  nothing  she  replies  would  give  me  more  pleasure 
than  a  compliance  with  your  request,  provided  it  shall  meet 
the  approbation  of  my  Father— But  how  can  he  consent,  when 
our  Constitution  requires  that  his  daughters  should  marry  in  his 
own  dominions?  Besides  my  father  intends  that  I  shall  receive 
the  King  of  Sciota  for  my  husband.  By  performing  says  he,  the 
cerimonies  of  Mariage  at  Tolanga  we  shall  literally  comply 
with  the  imperial  constitution,  as  Talanga  is  within  the 
dominions  of  your  Father — But  as  for  this  King  of  Sciota  do 
you  sincerely  wish  to  have  him  for  a  husband?  No,  she 
quickly  speaks,  anger  sparkled  in  her  eyes — No !  The  King  of 
Sciota  for  my  husband !  his  pride,  his  haughtiness — the  pom- 
posity of  all  his  movements,  excite  my  perfect  disgust.  I 
should  as  leave  be  yoked  to  a  porcupine.— 

These   Lovers,  as   you   may   well   conjecture,  said   many 


58 


THE 


things  too  tender  &  endearing  to  please  the  taste  of  the 
common  class  of  Lovers  —In  this  enter  view,  which  lasted 
about  four  hours,  they  exchanged  the  most  transporting 
expressions  of  Love — made  the  most  solemn  vows  of  sincerity 
&  perpetual  friendship — &  finally  agreed  that  Elseon  should 
make  known  to  the  Emperor  their  mutual  desire  to  be  joined 
in  wedlock.  The  next  day  he  wrote  to  the  Emperor  as  follows— 

May  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty.  Permit  me  to 
express  my  most  sincere  gratitude  for  the  high  favours  &  honour 
which  thro'  the  beneficence  of  your  majesty,  I  have  injoyed  in 
your  dominions — I  am  likewise  impelled  to  request  a  favour 
which  to  me  would  be  the  most  precious  gift  that  is  in  the  power 
of  your  majesty  to  bestow — Having  contracted  an  acquaintance 
with  your  most  amiable  daughter  Lamesa  &  finding  that  a 
correspondent  affection  &  esteem  exist  in  our  hearts  towards 
each  other  &  a  mutual  desire  to  be  united  by  the  solemn 
covenant  of  mariage,  I  would  therefore  solicit  your  majesty's 
permission,  that  such  a  connection  may  be  formed. — Such  a 
connection,  I  conceive,  may  in  its  effects  be  very  salutary  A 
beneficial  to  both  Empires — It  will  unite  the  two  imperial 
families  nearer  in  the  bond  of  consanguinity  &  fix  upon  them 
an  additional  obligation  to  cultivate  friendship,  peace  & 
amiable  intercourse — It  will  strengthen  the  sinues  of  both 
goverments  &  promote  an  happy  interchange  of  friendly 
offices. — As  to  the  objection  which  might  arise  from  the  consti- 
tution requiring,  that  the  Emperors  daughters  should  marry 
in  his  own  dominions — This  according  to  its  literal  meaning 
can  have  no  respect  only  to  the  place  where  the  Emperors 
Daughters  shall  marry — If  by  your  Majesties  permission  I 
should  marry  your  daughter  Lamesa,  in  your  dominions  it 
will  be  a  literal  fulfilment  of  the  constitution.  From  this  ground 
therefore  I  conceive  no  objection  of  any  weight  can  arise — 
Will  your  majesty  please  to  vouchsafe  an  answer  to  my  request. 
Signed.  ELSEON,  Prince  of  Kentuck. 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  59 

This  letter  was  presented  to  the  Emperor  by  Helicon  an 
intimate  friend  of  Elseon. — The  Emperor  readj'it — assumed 
the  aspect  of  deep  consideration —walked  the  room  a  few 
moments,  then  took  a  seat  &  told  Helicon  [that  he  might 
inform  the  young  prince — that  he  should  receive  an  answer 
within  Ten  days. — 

But  why  Ten  days — a  long  time  for  two  ardent  Lovers  to 
remain  in  suspense — But  the  Emperor  must  consult  his  Coun- 
sellors, his  priests — &  the  last  &  most  fatal  councellor  of  all 
the  King  of  Sciota,  who  presumed  to  claim  the  hand  of  the 
fair  Lamesa — The  affair  became  public — The  popular  senti- 
ment at  first  favoured  the  connection — The  Emperors  Coun- 
cellors  &  his  priests  were  at  first  inclined  to  recommend  an 
affirmative  answer.  But  the  interest  of  the  Sciotan  King  soon 
prevailed — This  produced  a  different  view  of  the  subject — The 
Councellors  perceived  that  such  a  connection  would  be  a  most 
flagrant  violation  of  the  true  meaning  &  spirit  of  the  constitu- 
tion &  the  Priests  considered  that  it  would  be  an  act  of  the 
greatest  impiety,  as  it  would  transgress  an  explicit  injunction  of 
the  great  founder  of  their  goverment  &  religion.  This  opinion 
had  vast  weight  on  the  minds  of  a  great  majority  of  the 
people.  The  more  liberal  sort  vindicated  the  cause  of  Elseon 
— This  produced  a  great  debate,  altercation  &  confusion  thro' 
the  City — All  were  anxious  to  know  the  Emperors  descision — 

On  the  tenth  day  the  Emperor  transmitted  to  the  prince 
the  following  answer  to  his  letter — 

To  our  best  beloved  Cousen  Elseon,  Prince  of  Kentuck. 
The  letter  we  received  from  your  Highness  has  impressed  our 
hearts  with  a  deep  sense  of  the  honour  &  benefits  which  you 
intended  our  family  &  impire — At  first  we  were  inclined  to 
accept  of  the  alliance  you  proposed — But  having  considered 
the  subject  with  great  seriousness  &  attention  we  find  that  to 
admit  your  Highness,  who  is  not  a  citizen  of  our  Empire,  to 
marry  into  our  family,  would  be  a  most  flagrant  violation  of 


60 

the  true  meaning  and  spirit  of  our  Constitution  &  an  impious 
outrage  on  the  sacred  memory  of  its  Founder — For  these 
reasons  we  must  solicit  your  Highness,  not  to  insist  on  our 
compliance  with  your  request. 

Signed  HAMBOCK  Emperor  of  Sciota. 

As  Elseon  had  been  informed  of  the  complexion  which 
his  affairs  had  assumed  in  the  court  &  thro'  the  City  he  was 
prepared  for  the  answer  which  he  received. — Without  manifest- 
ing the  least  chagririe  or  Resentment,  he  appeared  to  acquiesce 
in  the  decision  of  the  Emperor.  He  displayed  in  his  coun- 
tenance, his  conversation  &  deportment  his  usual  cheerfulness 
&  vivacity.  He  continued  his  amusements,  &  associated  with 
company  with  the  same  ease,  gracefulness  and  dignified  con- 
duct which  he  had  done  before. — At  the  same  time  his  deter- 
mination was  fixed  to  transport  the  fair  Lamesa  into  his 
fathers  dominions. — The  first  interview  which  he  had  with 
her  after  he  received  the  Emperors  Letter,  he  informed  her  of 
its  contents. — She  trembled,  paleness  began  to  .cover  her  face 
&  had  not  Elseon  received  her  into  his  arms,  perhaps  she 
would  have  falen  from  her  seat — However  by  a  few  soothing 
words  &  caresses,  she  was  restored  to  her  former  composure  & 
recollection — Believe  me,  quoth  he  my  dearest  Lamesa — you 
shall  be  mine — This  heart  shall  be  taken  from  my  bosom  & 
these  limbs  from  my  Body,  nothing  else  shall  prevent  our 
union  &  compleat  enjoyment  of  happiness. — Can  the  ancient 
scribbling  of  a  great  Sage  or  the  decree  of  an  Emperor  prevent 
the  Streams  from  uniting  with  the  Ocean — with  the  same  ease 
&  propriety  can  they  prevent  the  union  of  our  hands  since 
our  hearts  are  united.  — with  your  consent,  you  shall  be  mine! 
Is  it  possible,  she  replies,  is  it  possible  0  Elseon,  to  disregard 
the  authority  of  an  indulgent  &  beloved  Parent  &  disobey  his 
command — This  I  never  did — What  if  he  should  command 
you  says  Elseon  to  marry  the  King  of  Siota,  would  you  obey. 
—  He  might  she  replies,  with  more  regard  to  my  happiness 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  61 

command  me  to  plunge  a  dagger  into  my  heart — I  cannot 
indure  that  supercilious  bundle  of  pride  &  affectation. 

At  this  moment  her  maid  entered  the  room  &  gave  her 
a  Letter.  I  received  this  Letter  she  sa}^s,  from  your  Brother, 
who  told  me  it  was  from  the  Emperor.  Lamesa  opened  the 
Letter  &  read— 

My  dearest  &  best  beloved  Daughter — Having  the  most 
tender  &  affectionate  regard  for  your  future  welfare  &  felicity 
we  have  concluded  a  treaty  of  marriage  between  you  & 
Sambal  the  King  of  Sciota — This  aliance  will  be  honourable 
to  our  family — &  be  productive  of  many  benefits  to  the 
Empire.  On  the  tenth  day  from  this  time  the  nuptual  ceri- 
monies  will  be  consummated  in  our  Palace — You  will  be  in 
readiness  &  }Tield  a  cheerful  compliance  with  our  will. — 

Signed,  RAMBOCK,  Em.  of  Sciota. 

Had  the  Lightning  flashed  from  the  clouds  &  pierced  her 
heart,  it  could  not  have  produced  a  more  instantaneous  effect 
— She  fell  into  the  arms  of  Elseon — the  maid  ran  for  a  cordial 
— Elseon  rubed  her  temples  &  hands  &  loosned  the  girdle 
about  her  waist.  Within  about  an  hour  the  blood  began  to 
circulate.  Elseon  to  his  inexpressible  joy  felt  her  pulse  begin- 
ing  to  beat  &  perceived  flashes  of  colour  in  her  face — With  a 
plaintive  groan  she  opened  her  e}res  once  more  to  the  beams 
of  day — &  in  a  kind  of  wild  destraction  exclaimed — Ah 
cruel  cruel  Father — why  have  you  doomed  your  daughter 
to  a  situation  the  most  odious  &  disgustful — As  well  might 
you  have  thrown  her  into  a  den  of  porcupines,  opossums  & 
serpents — With  such  animals  I  could  enjoy  life  with  less  dis- 
gust &  torment,  than  with  this  mighty  King  of  Sciota. — An 
aliance  with  him  an  honour  to  our  family — an  honour  to  the 
decendents  of  the  great  Lobasca! — What  wicked  councellors 
have  deceived  my  father  &  induced  him  to  thro'  me  into  the 
arms  of  this  hateful  monster— Ah  whether  shall  I  fly  & 


62 

escape  my  barberous  destiny. — I  am  your  protector,  says  Elseon 
— I  am  your  friend  &  will  conduct  you  beyond  the  loving  & 
gigantic  grasp  of  Sambal. — His  loathsome  arms  shall  never 
incircle  my  dear  Lamesa — Consent  to  my  request  &  we  will 
be  within  ten  days  at  the  City  of  Gamba — Their  you  will  be 
esteemed  as  the  brightest  orniment  of  my  Fathers  Empire. — 

No  longer  she  replies,  0  Elseon  can  I  refuse  my  consent 
to  your  proposal.  When  a  compliance  with  my  fathers  com- 
mand will  entail  wrechedness  &  misery  thro'  life,  Heaven  will 
pardon  my  disobedience — Yes  Elseon  I  will  go  with  you — & 
place  my  happiness  in  your  power — I  would  share  with  you 
the  worst  of  fortune,  rather  than  fall  into  the  hands  of  this 
haughty  Sambal.  [What  could  she  say  more,  to  express  the  feel- 
ings of  a  heart  strugling  under  the  operation  of  different  passions 
&  opposite  motives — She  has  taken  her  resolution — Love  has  gained 
the  preeminence  over  every  obsticte.~\ 

[At  this  resolution  Elseon  was  transported  with  joy — he  now 
proceeds  to  form  his  plans  for  their  flight.  On  the  fourth  day  after 
he  called  upon  the  Emperor  &  requested  his  permission  to  depart  to 
his  own  country —  Tlie  Emperor  importuned  him  to  tarry  &  be  one 
of  the  guests  at  Lamesa' s  weding — But  he  declined  by  urging  as 
his  apoligy  the  anxiety  &  impatience  of  his  father  for  his  return.— 
Permission  was  granted  &  the  Emperor  added  that  lie  should  do 
himself  the  honour  to  furnish  the  Prince  with  an  escort  when  he  left 
the  City — Elseon  replied  that  lie  was  not  fond  of  much  parade,  he 
would  wish  the  escort  might  consist  of  the  Emperors  Children  only 
with  each  of  them  a  friend.  These  says  he  are  my  dearest  &  best 
beloved  cousens,  for  whom  I  shall  ever  retain  the  most  sincere 
friendship — Nothing  can  afford  me  more  pleasure  says  the  Emperor 
than  to  comply  with  your  request. — Elseon  took  an  affectionate 
leave  of  the  Emperor  &  on  the  second  day  after,  being  prepared 
for  his  journey,  he  sat  off  with  his  three  friends  &  their  servants— 
Moonrod  prince  of  the  empire  &  Lamesa,  with  her  two  sisters — 
With  each  of  them  a  friend  attended  him  on  his  journey  about 
twenty  miles — They  all  tarryed  at  a  village  over  night — ] 


63 

Imagination  alone  can  paint  the  pleasant  &  happy  scene 
— Elseon  was  transported  with  joy — He  prest  her  to  his 
bosom  with  all  the  ardor  of  inthusiasm  &  she  yielded  to  all 
his  tender  &  innocent  embraces,  with  a  grateful  sensibility  & 
modest  resignation. 

The   invention   &   inginuity   of    Elseon    must    now    be 
employed   in   forming   a  plan  of   their  flight  to  his  fathers 
dominions  —As  he  appeared  to  acquiesse  in  the  decision  of  the 
Emperor   &   had   maintained  the  same  cheerful  deportment 
none   were   suspicious  of  his   designs — The   Emperor  &  the 
whole  Court,  still  manifested  toward  him  every  token  of  high 
respect   &   sincere   friendship.     Without    any   hesitation   the 
Emperor  cheerfully  complied  with  his  request,  that  his  dear 
Cousens  —  the  son   and  the  three  daughters  of  the  Emperor, 
with   each  of  them  a  friend,  should  accompany  him  about 
twenty  miles,  on  his  return  to  Kentuck— The  ritenue  of  the 
young  Prince  consisted  of  four  of  his  most  intimate  friends  & 
other  servants — He   took   care    to    send    their    baggage    on 
by  two  servants  one  day  before  they  set  out  — The  morning 
arived — the  sun   shone   with  radiant  splendor — not  a  cloud 
intervened  or  was  seen  to  float  in  the  atmosphere — It  was  the 
fourth  day  after  Lamesa  had  received  the  Letter  which  doomed 
her  to  the  embraces  of  Sambal — The  Emperor,  his  Counsellors, 
his  priests  &  principal  officers  assembled — &  having  invited 
the  young  prince  &  his  friends  to  meet  them,  they  entered  the 
circle  with  great  cerimony.     The  Emperor  then  addressed  the 
Young  Prince,  thanked  him  for  the  honour  of  his  viset  & 
expressed  his  firm  determination  to  maintain  a  sincere  friend- 
ship &  an  inviolable  peace  with  the  goverment  of  Kentuck. 
Elseon  replied — that  these  sentiments  would  meet  the  cordial 
approbation  of  his  Father — who  retained  the  same  sentiments 
of  friendship  &  peace  toards  the  goverment  of  Siota — He  then 
thanked  the  Emperor  &  whole  assembly  for  the  high  respect 
they  had  shewn  him — This  was  done  with  that  frankness  & 
apparent    sencerity    that    the   whole   assembly   were   highly 


64 

pleased — The  Emperor  then  embraced  him  &  gave  him  his 
blessing — Customary  cerrimoiiies  were  mutually  exchanged  by 
tae  whole  company — &  even  tears  were  seen  to  drop  from 
every  eye. 

As  the  whole  of  this  parade  indicates  no  flight  of  Elseon 
&  Lamesa,  we  might  now  view  them,  with  their  select  com- 
pany of  friends  seting  out  on  a  short  journey.  All  mounted 
on  horses,  they  rode  about  twenty  miles  to  a  vilage  were  they 
halted.  An  eligant  supper  was  provided  —they  were  cheer- 
ful &  socible — none  appeared  more  so  than  Elseon  &  Lamesa. — 
The  next  day  Elseon  requested  the  company  of  his  dear 
cousens  a  short  distance  on  his  journey — When  they  had  rode 
about  two  miles  they  halted  &  proposed  to  take  their  lave  of 
each  other.  Lamesa  &  her  friend  without  being  perceived  by 
the  company  rode  on. — It  was  a  place  where  the  road  turned 
&  by  riding  one  rod  they  could  not  be  seen.  The  rest  of  the 
company  entered  into  a  short  conversation  &  passed  invita- 
tions for  reciprocal  visits  &  friendly  offices — They  then  clasped 
each  others  hands,  &  bowing  very  low  took  an  affectionate 
farewell  —But  where  are  Lamesa  &  her  friend— During  these 
cerimonies  their  horses  moved  with  uncommon  swiftness — her 
heart  palpitates  with  an  apprehension  that  she  might  be  over- 
taken by  her  Brother — But  now  a  friend  more  dear,  her 
beloved  Elseon,  with  his  companions,  outstrip  the  wind  in 
their  speed — &  within  one  hour  &  half  they  overtake  these 
fearful  Damsels.  They  all  precipitate  their  course  casting 
their  eyes  back  every  moment  to  her  pursuors.  But 
pursuors  had  not  sufficient  time  to  overtake  them — They 
safely  arive  on  the  Bank  of  the  great  River — Elseon  &  Lamesa 
were  the  first  that  entered  the  Boat  —the  Rest  follow — &  such 
was  Elseon's  engagedness  &  anxiety  to  secure  his  fair  prize,  that 
he  even  seized  an  oar,&  used  it  with  great  strength  &  dexterity — 
As  their  feet  steped  on  the  opposite  shore — Elseon  clasped  his 
hands  &  spoke  aloud — Lamesa  is  mine;  She  is  now  beyond 
the  grasp  of  a  pompous  Tyrant — &  the  controul  of  a  father, 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  65 

whose  mind  is  blinded  by  the  sorded  advice  of  a  menial  junto 
of  Councellors  &  priests.— She  is  mine— &  shall  soon  be  the 
princis  of  Kentuck.  Their  movement  is  slow  thro'  the  remain . 
ing  part  of  the  journey. — They  at  length  arive  at  the  great 
City  of  Gamba.  We  may  now  contemplate  them  as  having  new 
scenes  to  pass  trough.  Not  to  delineate  the  parade  which  was 
made  at  the  court  of  Hamboon,  for  the  reception  of  his  Son, 
Lamesa  &  their  friends — nor  to  describe  the  joy  that  was 
exhibited  in  every  part  of  the  City  on  their  arival  — &the 
universal  surprise  occationed  by  the  story  of  the  flight  of 
these  two  Lovers  — suffice  it  to  say  that  those  wno  beheld 
Lamesa  did  not  blame  Elseoii. — 

As  Harnboon  was  not  very  punctilious  in  his  regard  to 
the  Constitution,  being  possed  of  very  liberal  sentiments, 
Elseon  found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  his. -consent  to  marry 
Lamesa — On  the  fourth  day  after  their  arival,  Elseon  & 
Lamesa  with  each  of  them  a  friend — appeared  on  a  stage 
which  was  erected  on  the  public  square  of  the  City — The 
Emperor  &  empress  with  his  councellors,  his  priests,  his 
officers  &  all  his  relation  with  the  principal  Ladies  of  the 
city  formed  a  procession  &  surrounded  the  stage— The  com- 
mon citizens  being  a  great  multitude  took  their  stand  as  they 
pleased— The  Emperor  &  Empress  then  mounted  the  stage  & 
united  Elseon  &  Lamesa  in  the  bond  of  wedlock  according  to 
custom — And  as  pulling  the  Log  was  an  indispensible  ceri- 
mony,  one  was  provided  with  a  rope  round  it  on  the  stage — 
The  Bridegroom  &  bride  played  their  parts  in  pulling  the 
Rope  with  such  dexterity  &  gracefulness — that  the  whole 
assembly  were  most  pleasingly  entertained.  When  all  was 
ended  —The  whole  assembly  claped  their  hands  &  cried,  long 
live  Elseon  &  Lamesa — &  giving  three  huzzas  the  common 
citizens  dispersed — The  rest  repaired  to  a  sumptuous  enter- 
tainment &  spent  the  remaining  part  of  the  day  &  evening  in 
conversation,  singing  &  rereation. — 


66  THE 


CHAP    XII— 

The  Reader  will  recollect  that  Elseon  &  his  friends  left 
Moonrod  &  his  friends  in  a  very  pleasant  mood  without  the 
least  suspicion  that  Lamesa  &  her  friend  had  deserted  them. 
When  they  had  arived  at  the  vilage,  what  was  their  surprise 
when  they  found  Lamesa  &  her  friend  were  not  in  company— 
nor  had  any  one  any  recollections  of  her  being  in  company — 
after     they   had     stoped     to    take    their    leave    of    Elseon. 
Moonrod  &  the  other  Gentlemen  immediately  rode  back  with 
the  greatest  speed  to  the  place  where  they  had  halted,  &  not 
finding  any  traces  of  Lamesa,  the  conclusion  was  then  certain 
that  she  had  prefer  the  company  of  the  young  Prince  &  was 
on  her  way  to  Kentuck — Pursuit  would  be  in  vain,  their  only 
alternative  was,  to  hasten  back  &  carry  the  doleful  intelligence 
to   the   Emperor.     Their   speed  was  nearly  equal  to  that  of 
Elseon     Without  waiting  to  perform  the  customary  cerimony 
of  entering  the  palace  Moonrod  immediately  rushed  into  the 
Emperors  presence  &  exclaimed,  your  daughter  Lamesa  ha* 
been  seduced  by  Elseon  to  leave  our  company  unperceived  & 
has   gone   with   him   to   Kentuck. — Nothing   but   the  pencil 
of  the  Limner  could  paint  the  astonishment  of  the  Emperor- 
He  rose,  stood  motionless  for  a  moment,  then  stairing  fircely 
on  Moonrod  he  spoke — is  it  possible,  is  it  possible — are  you 
not  mistaken  my  Son. — I  am  not  says  he,~my  most  excellent 
father,  I  am  not  mistaken — This  morning  we  attended  Elseon 
a  small  distance  from  the  vilage  where  we  lodged — when  we 
halted  to  take  our  leave,  &  our  attention  was  all  engaged,  She 
&  her  friend  rode  off  unperceived  by  any  of  our  company— 
nor  did  we  miss  her  until  we  arived  again  at  the  vilage — We 
have  made  full  search  &  enquiry  &  find  that  she  has  absolutely 
gone  with  the  young  prince  to  Kentuck.     What  an  ingrate 
says  the  Emperor,  what  a  monster  of  hipocracy — Did  the  hon- 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  67 

curable  attention  we  have  shown  him  demand  such  treatment? 
How  has  he  insulted  the  dignity  of  our  family  &  outraged  the 
high  authority  of  our  govenment.— This  affair  will  demand 
the  most  serious  consideration. — 0  Lamesa— Lamesa  my 
darling,  my  best  beloved  Child  was  it  possible  for  you  to  be  so 
deceived  by  that  artful  prince,  was  it  possible  to  disobey  the 
command  of  your  indulgent  father  &  bring  upon  our  family 
such  wretchedness  &  dishonour. 

Fame  with  her  thousand  tongues  commenced  her  pleas- 
ing employment — &  as  swift  as  the  wings  of  time  she  wafted 
the  inteligence  thro  the  City  with  many  distorted  &  exagerated 
particulars — all  was  astonishment  confusion  &  uproar.  Resent- 
ment enkindled  her  indignant  sparks  into  a  flame — &  the 
general  cry  was  revenge  &  war.  The  Sciotan  King  was  walk- 
ing in  his  parlour  feeding  his  imagination  with  the  pleasing 
prospect  of  his  future  glory  &  felicity.  I  am  quoth  he  to 
himself,  honoured  above  all  the  other  princes  of  the  empire — 
&  even  above  the  heir  apparent  to  the  imperial  crown  of  Ken- 
tuck.  Who  could  be  admited  except  myself  to  many  the  fair 
Lamesa,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Emperor,  the  most 
amiable,  the  most  accomplished  &  the  most  honourable  Lady 
in  the  universe.  This  is  a  distinction  which  will  place  me 
on  equal  ground  with  the  Emperor  himself — &  command 
from  all  my  subjects  the  homage  of  their  highest  respect  & 
reverence — Besides  I  have  a  soul  that  can  relish  the  charms 
of  the  beautiful  Maid — She  will  adore  me  as  her  Lord  &  think 
herself  highly  honoured  &  exceeding  happy  to  submit  to  my 
most  endearing  &  affectionate  embraces. — But  ah  mighty 
Sambal  you  little  thought  how  soon  this  delightful  prospect 
would  be  reversed — &  that  your  soul  would  be  rilled  with 
chagrene,  indignation  &  revenge. — A  messenger  burst  into  his 
parlour  &  announced  the  astonishing  tidings  of  Lamesa's  elope- 
ment.— She  has  absolutely  gone  says  he  to  become  the  wife  of 
Elseon  &  the  empress  of  Kentuck. — Not  the  tremendous  roar 
of  ten  thousand  thunders  [spontaneously  thro'  the  atmosphere] 


68 

— could  have  produced  greater  surprise — His  countenace  was 
all  amazement — It  was  for  a  moment  covered  with  paleness 
his  lips  quivered — his  kneas  smote  together  &  his  gigantic 
body  trembled  like  the  shaking  of  a  tower  under  the  effects  of 
an  earthquake — But  soon  [after  a  little  silent]  his  reflections — 
&  cogitations  caused  the  blood  to  return  with  a  tenfold  velocity 
into  his  face — [it  assumed  the  coulor  of  redness  &  clinghing~] 
He  assumed  the  attitude  of  terrific  majesty  &  poured  forth 
his  feelings  in  a  voice  more  terrible  than  the  roaring  of  a 
volcano. — How  have  I  been  insulted,  abused,  dishonoured  & 
outraged.  How  have  my  prospects  of  glory  been  instan- 
taneously blasted  &  my  character  [become  utter]  become  the 
ridicule  of  a  laughing  world — What  felicities  of  enjoying 
the  imperial  maid  in  my  arms  adoring  me  for  her  husband 
are  now  vanished— And  by  whom  am  I  thus  disgraced,  insulted 
&  injured?  By  the  mock  prince  of  Kentuck — an  effeminate 
stripling — a  cringing  &  plausible  Upstart.  He  has  robed  me 
of  the  fairest  orniment  of  my  kingdom  Lamesa,  who  was 
mine  by  solemn  contract — &  must  he  now  revel  in  her  charms, 
which  are  mine,  &  pride  himself  in  those  deceitful  arts  by 
which  he  has  seduced  her  &  stolen  her  from  my  enjoyment. 
No  ungrateful  &  insiduous  monster — your  triumph  shall  be 
of  short  duration,  &  this  arm  shall  viset  your  crimes  upon 
your  head  with  a  tenfold  vengence — Having  poured  forth  a 
torrent  of  the  most  dreadful  imprecations  &  menaces,  he  left 
his  parlor,  &  walked  forth  to  consult  his  principal  officers  on 
the  best  plan  to  obtain  revenge — 

In  the  meantime,  the  Emperor  less  haughty  &  indignant, 
&  possessed  of  sentiments  more  humane  &  benevolent,  sent  an 
invitation  to  his  Councellors  to  attend  him — They  were  unani- 
mous in  the  opinion  that  the  offence  of  Elseon  required  repara- 
tion— But  should  war  be  the  consequence  if  he  refused  to 
return  Lamesa?  On  this  question,  two  of  the  Councellors 
contended  that  a  humble  recantation  would  repair  the  injury 
done  to  the  honour  of  the  imperial  family  &  the  authority  of 


69 

the  goverment.  The  other  two  insisted — [that  would  not  be 
sufficient]  that  they  should  demand  in  addition  ten  Mammouth 
which  would  be  an  adequate  compensation — But  they  all 
depricated  the  horrors  of  war.  In  the  midst  of  their  debates 
which  were  managed  with  great  coolness  &  impartiality 
Sambal  presented  himself.  I  Have  come  forward  says  he,  may 
it  please  your  most  excellent  majesty,  to  demand  the  fulfilment 
of  that  solemn  Contract  which  you  made  to  deliver  me  your 
oldest  daughter  in  marriage — She  has  been  surreptitiously 
carried  off  by  the  young  prince  of  Kentuck — She  is  mine  by 
contract  &  your  majesty  is  bound  to  deliver  her  to  me — [J 
demand]  Let  her  be  immediately  demanded,  &  if  the  Emperor, 
the  father  of  the  young  prince  shall  refuse  to  return  her — this 
will  implicate  him  in  the  same  crime  &  be  a  sufficient  cause 
of  war.  In  that  case  war  will  be  indispensible  to  vindicate 
the  honour  of  our  respective  Crowns — &  the  rights  of  the 
Empire.  I  should  then  give  my  voice  for  war  &  would  never 
sheath  my  sword  until  torrents  of  blood  had  made  an  expia- 
tion for  the  ingratitude  baseness  &  perfedy  of  the  young 
prince — An  humble  recantation  or  the  delivery  of  ten  mam- 
moth— would  this  be  a  sufficient  reparation  for  an  offence  so 
flagitious — so  enormous. — No  the  very  proposal  would  be  an 
insult  on  the  dignity  of  our  goverment— Can  any  thing  short 
of  the  repossession  of  the  fair  object  stolen — of  the  invaluable 
prize  feloniously  taken  from  us  be  an  adequate  compensation — 
Nothing  short  of  this  can  heal  our  bleeding  honour— appease 
the  indignation  of  our  subjects,  &  reinstate  friendship  &  an 
amicable  intercourse  between  both  Empires — Let  a  refusal  be 
followed  by  an  immediate  declaration  of  war — Let  the 
resources  &  energies  of  the  nation  be  called  forth — assemble 
your  armies  &  pour  destruction  upon  all  who  shall  oppose  the 
execution  of  our  revenge. — I  myself  will  lead  the  van  & 
mingle  my  arm  with  those  who  fight  the  most  bloody  battles 
—Heroes  shall  fall  before  us — their  towns  shall  be  laid  in  ruins, 
&  carnage  shall  glut  our  indignant  swords.— 


70 

When  further  deliberation  had  taken  place,  the  Emperor 
&  two  of  his  Counsellors  adopted  the  advice  of  Sambal  [to 
demand  Lamesa] — &  an  Envoy  was  immediately  dispatched  to 
the  emperor  of  Kentuck  with  the  following  Letter. 

.  * 

May  it  please  your  most  gracious  Majesty. 

Nothing  could  have  given  us  more  pleasure  than  the 
disposition  you  manifested  in  sending,  Elseon  the  heir  appar- 
ent to  your  Crown  to  viset  our  family.  We  treated  him  as  our 
dearest  Cousen  &  as  our  most  intimate  Friend — He  was  invited 
to  associate  with  our  children  &  to  consider  himself  whilst  he 
tarried  as  a  member  of  our  family — Such  being  the  confidence 
we  placed  in  his  rectitude  &  honour,  that  he  assumed  the 
liberty  to  contract  the  most  intimate  acquaintance  with 
Lamesa  our  eldest  daughter — This  produced  an  agreement 
between  them  that  with  our  consent  they  would  be  united  in 
marriage. — Nothing  would  have  been  more  pleasing  than  such 
a  connection.  But  we  found  that  it  would  be  a  most  flagrant 
violation  of  the  true  meaning  &  spirit  of  our  Constitution  & 
an  impious  outrage  on  the  memory  of  its  great  founder. — For 
these  reasons  we  signified  our  pleasure  that  Elseon  would  not 
insist  on  our  compliance  with  his  request. — He  appeared  to 
acquiese  in  our  descision — &  we  afterwards  contracted  with 
Sambal,  king  of  Sciota  to  give  her  in  marriage  to  him. — But 
the  after  conduct  of  your  Son,  may  it  please  your  most  gracious 
majesty,  did  not  correspond  with  the  high  confidence  we 
placed  in  him. —With  deep  regret  &  the  most  painful  sensa- 
tions we  are  compelled  to  declare  that  he  has  committed  a 
crime,  which  has  disturbed  our  peace  &  happiness,  dishonored 
our  family,  &  outraged  the  authority  of  our  goverment  &  the 
rights  of  our  empire. — He  [has]  formed  a  plan  to  transport  Lamesa 
into  your  dominions — To  accomplsh  this  [he  made  use  of  the 
most  insidus  arts] — He  took  advantage  of  our  clemency  &  con- 
descention  &  the  high  respect  we  manifested  towards  him — 
&  without  our  consent  &  contrary  to  our  will,  he  has  succeeded 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  71 


[in  transporting  to  the  City  of  Gamba] — in  his  perfiduous  design. 
— Lamesa  is  doubtless  with  you  in  the  City  of  Gamba.  A 
crime  of  such  malignity  —committed  against  the  honour  & 
interest  of  our  family,  goverment  &  empire,  demands  repara- 
tion— Your  majesty  will  perceive  that  the  only  adequate 
reparation  which  can  be  made  —will  be,  the  return  of  Lamesa 
to  our  dominions.— We  therefore  demand  that  she  be  conveyed 
back  with  all  possible  expedition.  No  other  alternative  can 
prevent  the  interruption  of  that  confidence,  friendship  &  peace 
which  have  long  continued  between  both  empires — &  save 
them  from  the  horrors  &  calamities  of  war. — 

Signed.     RAMBOCK,  Emperor  of  Sciota. 

When  Hamboon  had  received  this  letter,  he  immediately 
invited  his  Councellors  to  attend  him  &  laid  it  before  them, 
&  as  it  was  a  subject  of  vast  importance  to  the  empire  he  like- 
wise invited  his  priests  &  principal  offercers  to  join  them  in 
council.  The  various  passions  appeared  to  opperate  in  the 
course  of  their  consultation.  To  avoid  Hostilities  with  all  its 
attendant  callamities  was  what  they  most  ardently  desired — 
&  some  concluded  that  if  no  other  alternative  could  be  agreed 
upon  it  would  be  for  the  interest  of  the  Empire  &  the  best 
policy  to  return  the  princess — but  others  reprobated  this 
measure  as  pusilanimous  &  cowardly,  &  advised,  if  no  other 
reparation  could  be  received — to  retain  the  princis  &  maintain 
the  conflict  with  a  manly  &  heroic  firmness. — What  say  they? 
do  not  honor  &  justice  require,  that  we  should  defend  the 
rights  of  the  imperial  Family — If  the  Sciotan  goverment 
should  demand,  that  we  should  send  them  our  Emperor  or 
Empress,  would  not  honor  impel  us  to  spurn  at  the  demand 
&  reject  it  with  indignation— Their  present  demand  is  as  pre- 
posterous, &  as  insulting. — No  satisfaction  will  they  receive  for 
the  supposed  injury — except  that  we  should  seize  the  princis 
of  the  Empire,  tare  her  from  the  bosom  of  her  consort  & 
transport  her  to  Sciota — Are  we  capable  of  an  act  so  unjust  & 


72 

inhuman — so  base  &  disgraceful?  As  the  debates  were  pro- 
ceeding, Elseon  rose — May  I  says  he  claim  your  attention  a 
moment. — Undaunted  by  the  cruel  demand  &  haughty  menace 
of  the  Sciotan  goverment,  I  am  willing  to  abide  your  decision 
— If  transporting  Lamesa  into  our  dominions,  when  she  has 
been  most  unjustly  &  inhumanly  demanded  for  a  companion, 
is  a  crime  [so  perfiduous  &  flagitious  as]  of  such  mighty  magni- 
tude, then  inflict  a  punishment  that  shall  be  adequate  to  the 
offence — But  if  the  Almighty  whose  benevolence  is  infinite, 
has  designed  the  union  of  hands  where  hearts  are  united — I 
have  then  transgressed  no  divine  law,  but  have  obeyed  the 
divine  will — I  am  therefore  innocent  of  any  crime.  I  have 
an  undoubted  right  to  retain  Lamesa  for  my  wife— &  no  gover- 
ment on  earth  have  any  authority  from  heaven  to  tear  her 
from  my  bosom. — Nor  will  I  submit  to  such  an  event — so  long 
as  the  life-blood  circulates  thro'  my  heart  &  warms  my  limbs 
— If  war  must  be  the  consequence  of  my  proceedings,  [which 
transgressed  no  principles  af  honour  justice  or  humanity,  we  are 
both  innocent  $  honourable,  it  will  give  me  the  most  perfect  feelings.~\ 
I  shall  deplore  it  certainly,  but  will  never  shrink  like  a 
Dastard  from  the  conflict. — The  Sciotan  King,  who  is  at  the 
bottom  of  all  the  mischief  shall  never  behold  me  fleeing  before 
his  gigantic  sword  or  sculking  to  avoid  a  single  combat  with 
him.— You  have  therefore  no  other  alternative  but  either  first 
to  slay  your  prince  &  then  like  cowards  to  send  back  your 
princes  to  Sciota — or  else  to  make  immediate  preparation  to 
meet  their  threatened  vengences  with  fortitude  and  courage. 
This  speach  of  the  young  prince  united  the  whole  council  & 
they  unanimously  agreed  to  reject  the  demand  of  the  Sciotan 
goverment.  A  Letter  was  written  &  an  Envoy  dispached  with 
instructions  to  attempt  a  reconciliation.  He  precipitated  his 
journey  to  the  court  of  Rambock  &  when  he  arrived  he 
delivered  him  the  following  Letter. 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  73 

May  it  please  your  most  excellent  Majesty. — 

Next  to  the  welfare  aiid  prosperity  of  our  Empire  we 
should  rejoice  in  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  yours.  It  is 
therefore  with  extreme  regret  that  we  view  the  unhappy  dif- 
ference which  has  arisen,  &  which  threatens  to  involve  the 
two  empires  in  the  calamities  of  war — Had  you  demanded  a 
reparation  for  the  supposed  injury  which  would  consist  with 
the  principles  of  justice  &  the  honour  of  our  crown  &  gover- 
ment,  it  should  be  given  you  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness — 
But  to  return  you  Lamesa — who  has  now  become  the  princis 
of  Kentuck,  would  be  tearing  her  from  the  arms  of  an  affec- 
tionate Husband  &  breaking  the  'bond  of  solemn  wedlock — 
And  compliance  with  your  demand  will  subject  us  to  the  com- 
mission of  such  injustice  &  cruelty,  it  must  therefore  be  our 
duty  to  declare,  that  we  will  not  return  the  young  princes — 
And  as  such  an  event  would  destroy  her  happiness  as  well  as 
that  of  her  affectionate  Consort,  we  shall  permit  her  to  tarry 
in  our  dominions  &  grant  her  protection — We  are  however 
desirous  that  an  honourable  reconciliation  may  take  place — 
and  a  good  understanding  be  restored — To  effect  this  most 
important  and  very  desirable  object,  we  have  given  full 
authority  to  Labanko  our  beloved  Brother,  the  Bearer  of  this 
Letter,  to  negociate  a  settlement  of  our  difference,  provided 
you  will  receive  any  thing  as  a  substitute  for  what  you  have 
demanded. — 

Signed  HAMBOON  Emperor  of  Kentuck. 

The  mind  of  Rambock  was  not  formed  for  the  perpetual 
exercise  of  Resentment  &  malice. — And  having  conversed  a 
considerable  time  with  Labanco,  who  appologised  for  the  con- 
duct of  the  young  prince  with  great  inginuety — his  anger 
abated  &  he  felt  a  disposition  for  the  restoration  of  friendship 
— but  the  indignation  &  malice  of  Sambol  encreased  with 
time — his  dark  soul  thirsted  more  ardently  for  revenge  & 
nothing  would  satisfy  but  blood  &  carnage.  He  employed 


74  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

instruments  to  assist  in  fanning  the  sparks  of  resentment  & 
blowing  them  into  the  flames  of  war.  Not  content  to  repre- 
sent facts  as  they  existed — &  in  their  true  colours — mon- 
strous stories  were  fabricated  &  put  in  cerculation— calculated 
to  excite  prejeudice  &  rouse  the  resentment  of  the  people 
against  Elseon  &  the  whole  empire  of  Kentuck.  He  had 
recourse  to  a  class  of  men  who  were  denominated  prophets 
&  conjurors  to  favour  his  disign. — They  had  for  many  ages 
a  commanding  influence  over  the  minds  of  a  great  majority 
of  the  people — As  they  pretended  to  have  art  of  investigat- 
ing the  councils  &  designs  of  the  heavenly  Hierachy  &  to 
have  a  knowledge  of  future  events,  the  people  with  pleasure 
listened  to  their  predictions  [with  vast  pleasure] — &  thought 
it  impious  to  question  or  or  doubt  their  fulfilment.  A  small 
company  of  these  necromancers  or  juglers  assembled  on  the 
great  square  of  the  City  &  mounted  a  stage  which  was  pro- 
vided for  them. — The  Citizens  attended.  It  was  a  prodigious 
concourse  of  all  classes,  of  all  descriptions,  both  wise  &  simple* 
both  male  &  female. — They  surrounded  the  stage  and  were 
all  attention,  all  anxious  to  learn  the  hiden  decrees  of  Heaven, 
&  the  future  destinies  of  the  empire. — Drafolick  their  chief 
prophet  extended  his  arms  &  cast  up  his  eyes  towards  Heaven. 
Quoth  he — Heaven  unfolds  her  massy  gates  &  opens  to  my 
view  a  prospect,  wide  &  vast — The  seven  sons  of  the  great 
Spirit  sieze  their  glittering  swords  &  swear  they  shall  not  be 
sheathed  till  blood  in  torrents  run  &  deluge  the  fair  land  of 
Kentuck  I  behold  enemies  martialing  on  the  celestial  plain 
— &  hear  warriors  &  heroes  cry — avenge  the  crime  of  Elson 
—I  hear  a  thundering  voice  proceeding  from  the  great 
Throne  of  him  who  rules  the  world — proclaiming  thus — 
corn  shall  not  grow  on  the  Sciotan  fields,  nor  mamouth  yield 
their  milk — nor  fish  be  taken  in  the  snare  but  pestilence 
shall  roam — unless  Sciota  shall  avenge  the  crime  of  Elseon. 
Drofalik  ended  his  prophesy — Hamack  then  arose  &  in  his 
hand  he  held  a  stone  which  he  pronounced  transparent — 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUN£."  75 

tho'  it  was  not  transparent  to  common  eyes. — Thro'  this  he 
could  view  things  present  &  things  to  come — could  behold 
the  dark  intrigues  &  cabals  of  foreign  courts — &  discover 
hidden  treasures,  secluded  from  the  eyes  of  other  mortals. 
He  could  behold  the  galant  &  his  mistress  in  their  bed 
chamber  &  count  all  their  moles  warts  &  pimples.  Such 
was  the  clearness  of  his  sight  when  this  transparent  stone  was 
placed  before  his  eyes.  He  looked  fiercely  &  steadfastly  on 
the  stone  &  raised  his  prophetick  voice. — I  behold  Hamboon 
with  all  his  priests  &  great  officers  assembled  around  him — 
with  what  contempt  he  declares  he  dispises  all  the  Sciotans — 
they  are  says  he  cowards  &  paltroons — they  dare  not  face  my 
brave  warriors — Here  I  see  four  men  coming  forward  bearing 
an  immage  formed  with  all  the  fetures  of  ugliness  and 
deformity — This  they  call  Sambal — the  King  of  Sciota — The 
whole  company  break  forth  into  boisterous  laughing — Ah  see 
&  they  are  cutting  off  his  head  with  their  swords  yes — and 
are  now  kicking  it  about  the  palace — Here  is  a  pole  it  is  stuck 
upon  that  and  carried  thro'  the  City. — 0  my  loving  sparks 
Elseon  &  Lamesa — what  makes  you  so  merry — why  Elseon 
says  he  has  outwitted  the  Sciotans  —he  has  got  the  prize  &  he 
little  regards  their  resentment. — Hamack  was  proceeding  with 
such  nonsensical  visions  when  the  multitude  interrupted  him 
with  a  cry — Revenge  Revenge— We  will  convince  the  Ken- 
tuckans  that  we  are  not  cowards  or  poltroons — Their  heads 
shall  pay  for  their  sport  in  kicking  about  the  pretended  head 
of  our  beloved  King. — We  will  avenge  the  crime  of  Elseon — 
The  great  and  good  Being  is  on  our  side,  &  threatens  us  with 
famine  &  pestilence  unless  we  avenge  the  crime  of  Elseon. 

The  arts  of  these  Conjurers  were  the  consummation  of 
Sambal's  plan,  to  produce  in  the  minds  of  the  multitude  an 
inthusiasm  &  rage  for  war. — He  now  repairs  to  the  Emperor 
&  solicits  him  to  assemble  his  councellors  immediately  pro- 
claim war  &  concert  measures  for  its  prosecution.  The 
Emperor  replies,  that  they  should  soon  be  assembled — 


76  THE 

But  as  to  war  it  was  a  subject  which  required  great  considera- 
tion.— 

Early  on  the  next  day  his  councellors,  priests  &  principal 
officers  all  meet  him  in  the  council  Room — He  laid  before 
them  the  letter  of  Hamboon — &  observed,  that  tho'  the  gov- 
erment  of  Kentuck  had  refused  to  return  Lamesa — yet  they 
had  offered  to  make  to  our  goverment  a  recantation  of 
Elseon's  crime  &  to  pay  us  almost  any  sum  as  a  reparation  for 
our  injury. — The  council  sat  silent  for  some  time — at  length 
the  venerable  Boakim  arose. — I  must  beg,  says  he,  the  indul- 
gence of  your  Majesty  &  this  honourable  council  a  few 
moments — Never  did  I  rise  with  such  impressions  of  the  high 
importance  of  our  deliberations  as  what  I  now  feel — The  great 
question  to  be  decided  is  peace  or  war — If  peace  can  be  pre- 
served with  honour— then  let  us  maintain  peace —  but  if  not, 
then  let  us  meet  war  with  fortitude  &  courage. — As  to  the 
great  crime  of  Elseon,  no  one  presumes  to  present  an  apology 
— Even  their  own  goverment  by  offering  to  make  reparation 
implicitly  aknowledge  that  he  has  been  guilty  of  a  crime. — 
But  is  it  of  such  malignity  as  to  require  the  conflagration  of 
towns  &  cities  &  the  lives  of  milions  to  make  an  expiation. — 
[Can  no  other  reparation  consistent  with  justice  &  humanity  be 
received] — Or  must  we  [compel]  in  order  to  ha^e  an  atonement 
made  for  the  crime  of  Elseon,  compel  the  goverment  of  Ken- 
tuck  to  commit  another  crime,  to  separate,  to  tear  from  each 
other's  embraces  the  husband  &  wife. — Such  a  reparation  as 
this  we  cannot  in  justice  expect. — Shall  we  then  accept  of  no 
other? — Cannot  our  bleeding  honour  be  healed  without  shed- 
ing  blood— without  laying  a  whole  empire  in  ruins.— Such 
refined  notions  of  honour  may  prove  our  own  ruin,  as  well  as 
the  ruin  of  those  on  whom  we  attempt  to  execute  vengence — 
The  calamities  of  war  have  a  reciprocal  action  on  the  parties, 
each  must  expect  to  endure  a  portion  of  evils — how  large  a 
portion  would  fall  to  our  share,  in  case  of  war,  it  is  not  for  us 
to  determine — While  thirsting  for  revenge,  we  contemplate 


77 

with  infinite  pleasure,  their  armies  routed  &  their  warriors 
bleeding  under  our  swords — their  helpless  women  &  children 
-expiring  by  thousands  &  their  country  in  flames — But  reverse 
the  scene — suppose  the  enemy  have  as  much  wit  as  much 
stratagem  courage  strength  &  inhumanity  as  what  we  possess, 
&  such  may  be  our  situation,  when  the  flood  gate  is  once 
opened,  who  can  stop  the  torrent  &  prevent  devastation  & 
ruin— [We  ought  therefore"]  It  was  never  designed  by  the 
great  &  good  Being  that  his  children  should  contend  &  destroy 
that  existence  which  he  gave  them — They  all  have  equal 
rights — &  ought  to  strive  to  maintain  peace  &  friendship — 
This  has  been  the  maxim  of  our  fathers  &  this  the  doctrine 
taught  by  the  great  founder  of  our  goverment  &  religion — 
Under  the  influence  of  this  maxim  our  nation  has  grown  to 
an  emence  multitude — &  contentment  &  happiness  have  been 
universal. — But  why  can  we  not  enjoy  peace  with  honour?— 
what  insurmountable  obsticles  are  then  to  prevent. — [  Why 
truely,  a  recantation  $  property  are  no  compensation  for  the 
injury?  For  other  offences  these  are  accepted — £  why  must 

the  offence  of  Elseon  be  singular ] 

The  Emperor's  daughter  we  presume  is  happy — nor  can 
it  be  a  disgrace  to  the  imperial  family  that  she  has  married 
the  son  of  an  Emperor,  the  heir  apparent  to  his  crown— [But 
she  was  to  have  been  the  wife  of  Sambol  the  King  of  Sciota?~\ 
We  can  therefore  with  honour  to  our  goverment  accept  of  the 
reparation  offered — &  thus  preserve  the  blessings  of  peace. 
But  if  we  suffer  resentment,  pride  &  ambition  to  plunge  us 
into  a  war — where  will  its  mischief — where  will  its  miseries 
end — As  both  empires  are  nearly  equal  as  to  number  & 
resources  I  will  venture  to  predict  their  eventual  overthrow 
&  destruction. 

Boakim  would  have  proceeded, — but  Hainkol  rose  &  inter- 
rupted— It  was  impudence  in  the  extreme — but  he  had  much 
brass  &  strong  lungs — &  would  be  heard  further  than  Boakim. 
— Such  sentiments  says  he  may,  comport  with  the  infirmities 


78 

of  age— but  they  are  too  degrading  &  cowardly  for  the  vigor 
and  youth  of  manhood — If  we  suffer  insult,  perfedy  &  outrage 
to  pass  of  with  impunity — we  may  afterwards  bend  our  necks 
to  be  troden  upon  by  every  puny  upstart  &  finical  coxcomb- 
No — let  us  march  with  our  brave  warriors  into  the  dominion 
of  Hamboon.    His  effeminate  &  luxurious  Court  will  tremble 
at,  our  presence  &  yield  the  fair  Lamesa  into  our  possession— 
But  if  they  should  still  have  the  temerity  to  refuse — we  will 
then  display  our  valour  by  inflicting  upon  them  a  punish- 
ment which  their  crimes  deserve  —  Yes  our  valiant  warriors 
shall  gain  immortal  renown  by  their  heroic  exploits:  [^    by 
the  destruction  of  all  shall  whoJ]    Sciota  will  ever  after  have  the 
preeminence  over  Kentuck — &  compel  her  haughty  sons  to 
bow  in  our  presence — Let  war  be  proclaimed — &  every  king- 
dom &  tribe  from  the  River  to  the  Lakes  will  pour  forth  their 
warriors   anxious   to   revenge  our  country's  wrongs. — Scarce 
had  he  done  speaking — And  Lakoon  the  High  Priest  arose— 
\~He  was  in  the  interest  of  Sambal  $  had  married  his  sister.    He 
had  taken  great  umbrage  at  Elseon  for  saying  that  the  priesthood 
had  too  great  an  assendence  of  the  court  of  Rambock.~] — And 
lifting  up  his  sanctamoneous  eyes  slowly  towards  heaven  & 
extending  his  [right]  reverend  hand  a  little  above  an  horizon- 
tal position  he  spoke — When  the  Laws  which  are  contained 
in  our  holy  religion  are  transgressed,  it  is  my  duty  as  high 
Priest  of  the  empire  to  give  my  testimony  against  the  trans- 
gression— Elseon,  the  heir  apparent  to  the  imperial  throne  of 
Kentuck  has  been  guilty  of  Robery  &  impiety  within   our 
dominions — He   has   robed   this   empire    of    an    invaluable 
treasure  &  as  this  crime  is  a  most  flagicious  transgression  of 
our  divine  Law — it  must  have  been  commited  in  defiance  of 
the  high  authority  of  Heaven — &  therefore  it  is  an  act  of  the 
greatest  impiety.     The  injury,  the  insult  &  outrage  has  not 
been  commited  against  us  alone — if  this  was  the  case  per- 
haps we  might  accept  of  reparation — but  it  commited  against 
the  throne  of  omnipotence  &  in   defiance  of  his  authority.— 


79 

No  reparation  can  ©f  consequence  be  received  except  it  be  a 
return  of  the  stolen  treasure — or  the  Blood  of  the  Transgres- 
sor— nothing  else  can  satisfy  the  righteous  demand  of  the 
Great  &  good  Being — He  therefore. calls  upon  the  civil  power 
to  execute  his  vengeance — to  inflict  an  exampleary  punish- 
ment—and as  it  is  his  cause— &  you  are  imployed  as  his 
instruments  you  may  be  assured  that  his  almighty  arm  will 
add  strength  to  your  exertions  &  give  you  a  glorious  victory 
over  your  enimies — The  mighty  atoheivments  of  your  warriors 
shall  immortalize  their  names — &  their  heads  shall  be  crowned 
with  never  fading  laurels — &  as  for  those  who  shall  die,  glor- 
iously fighting  in  the  cause  of  their  country  &  their  God,  they 
shall  immediately  receive  etherial  Bodies  — &  shall  arise 
quickly  to  the  abodes  of  increasing  delight  and  glory — He 
said  no  more — he  had  discharged  some  part  of  his  malice 
against  Elseon  for  saing,  that  the  priesthood  had  too  much 
influence  in  the  court  of  Rambock — 

The  door  was  opened  &  it  was  seen  that  Sambal,  at  the 
head  of  a  great  multitude  of  citizens  had  taken  their  stand  in 
front  of  the  house — all  crying  with  a  loud  voice— Revenge  & 
war— Long  live  the  Emperor  &  King — We  will  a^nge  their 
wrongs:  This  uproar,  &  the  harang  of  the  High  Priest  deter- 
mined the  wavring  mind  of  the  Emperor.— [But  the  venerable 
Boakim  $  Bithawan  opposed  the  torrent  \_£  stood  as  stood  firm."] 
Ihey  boldly  affirmed  that  a  war  was  impolitic  $  unjustifiable — 
But  \_ihey~\  Iheir  opposition  however  was  vain — The  popular  voice 
was  against  them — $  the  other  two  councellors — Hamkol  $ 
Gamasko  [gave  their  vote  for  war] — urged  with  great  vehemence 
that  war  should  be  declared. — ] 

In  vain  were  all  the  reasonings  of  the  venerable  Boakim 
&  Bithawan — The  other  two  councillors  Hamkol,  &  Gamasko 
joining  the  Emperor  they  proceeded  to  make  out  a  declaration 
of  vV^ar — It  was  in  these  words — 

War  is  declared  by  the  government  &  empire  of  Sciota 


80  THE 

against  the  government  &  empire  of  Kentuck — The  Sciotans 
are  required  to  exterminate,  without  distinction  of  age  or  sex 
all  the  inhabitants  of  the  empire  of  Kentuck — they  are 
required  to  burn  their  houses,  &  either  to  destroy,  or  to  take 
possession  of  their  property  for  their  own  use  &  benefit.  This 
destruction  is  commanded  by  the  great  benevolent  Spirit  &  by 
the  government  of  Sciota. 

Signed  RAMBOCK  Emperor  of  Sciota. 

A  copy  of  this  declaration  was  given  to  Labano  the 
brother  &  evoy  of  Hamboon — He  demanded  a  guard  to  defend 
him  against  the  rage  of  "the  common  people — who  discovered 
a  disposition  to  plunge  th'eir  swords  into  the  heart  of  every 
man,  whose  fortune  it  was  to  be  born  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  River — Labanco  was  garded  as  far  as  the  River  &  conveyed 
across  in  safety — He  repaired  to  Gamba,  [<f  there  he  proclaimed 
the  intelligence,  of  this  declaration  of  War.~]  &  there  made  known 
all  the  proceedings  of  the  Sciotan  goverment. 

Here  one  leaf  of  the  manuscript,  pages  133  and  134,  appear  to  be 
missing.     Plge  135  proceeds  as  follows: 

Habelon,  King  of  Chiango  was  the  next  proud  chief  who 
appeared  at  Galanga  with  a  chosen  band  of  warriors.  He  had 
fifteen  thousand  who  boasted  of  superior  strength  &  agility— 
Their  countenances  were  fierce  &  bold,  being  true  indications 
of  their  hearts  which  feared  no  danger— They  were  always 
obedient  to  the  order  of  their  king  who  always  sought  the  most 
conspicuous  place  for  the  display  of  his  valour—  Possessed  of 
gigantic  strength  &  of  astonishing  agility  he  was  capable  of 
performing  the  most  briliant  acheivments  which  would  almost 
exceed  belief — His  mind  was  uncultivated  by  science  &  his 
passions  were  subject  to  no  restraint — His  resentment  was 
quick  &  firy  &  his  anger  knew  no  bounds  [/or  expression]— 
Nothing  was  concealed  in  his  heart — whether  friendship  or 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  81 

enmity — but  always  exhibited  by  expressions  strong  &  extrava- 
gant.— He  had  a  soul  formed  for  war— In  the  bustle  of 
campaigns,  in  the  sanguine  field  where  heroes  fell  beneath 
his  conquering  sword,  his  ambition  was  gratafied  &  he  acquired 
the  highest  martial  glory. 

Ulipoon  King  of  Michegan  received  the  orders  of  the 
Emperor  with  great  joy — War  suited  his  nigardly  & 
avaricious  soul — as  he  was  in  hopes,  to  obtain  great  riches  from 
the  spoils  of  the  Enirny— Little  did  he  regard  the  miseries 
&  destruction  of  others  if  by  this  means  he  could  obtain 
wealth  &  agrandize  himself — A  mind  so  contracted  &  selfish 
was  not  capable  of  imbibing  one  sentiment  of  generosity  or 
humanity — or  even  of  honour — None  however  were  more 
boistrous  than  he  for  war— None  proclaimed  their  own  valour 
with  so  loud  a  voice — yet  none  were  more  destitute  of  courage 
&  more  capable  of  treachery,  baseness  &  cruelty — Yet  with 
the  sounding  epithets  of  patriotism,  honour  &  valour— he 
proceeded  with  great  expedition  to  collect  a  chosen  band  of 
[dauntless  warriors — the  consisted  of]  Eighteen  thousand 
wariors. — Their  marshial  appearanc'e  intittled  then!  to  a  com- 
mander of  more  generosity  &  valour,  than  the  nigardly  & 
treacherous  Ulipoon. 

Numapon,  the  King  of  Colorangus  [made  no~]  was  prompt 
to  comply  with  the  imperial  Requisition.  Tho'  he  prefered 
the  scenes  of  peace — &  Being  very  fond  of  study  &  of  the 
mechanical  arts  his  mind  was  replenished  with  knowledge  & 
he  took  great  pleasure  in  promoting  works  of  inginuity.  He 
was  farmed  for  [greaf]  wisdom  &  [subtelty]  penetration  of 
mind,  was  capable  of  forming  great  plans  &  of  prossecuting 
them  with  vigor  &  perseverance — He  was  deliberate  & 
circumspect  in  all  his  movements  [but  was  always  quick,  on 
any  suden  emmergence,  to  concert  plans  $  to  determine] — had  the 
full  command  of  his  mental  powers  in  every  situation — & 
even  when  dangers  surrounded  him  would  instantly  deter- 
mine the  best  measures  to  be  pursued.  He  prefered  the  scenes 


82 

of  peace — but  could  meet  war  with  courage  &  firmness. — At 
the  head  of  a  select  band  of  sixteen  thousand  men,  all  com- 
pleatly  armed  &  anxious  to  meet  the  foe  he  marched  to  join 
the  grand  army.  Not  far  behind  appeared  Ramuck  the  King 
of  Geneseo — [  With}  Furious  &  resolute,  he  had  made  the 
utmost  expedition  to  collect  his  forces — Nor  did  he  delay  a 
moment,  when  his  men  were  collected  &  prepared  to  move — 
At  the  head  of  ten  thousand  bold  &  robust  warriors  he 
appeared  at  the  place  of  general  rendesvos  within  one  day 
after  the  King  of  Colorongus  had  arived. — He  hosted  of  the 
rapidity  of  his  movements  &  tho'  he  commanded  the  smalest 
division  of  the  grand  army,  yet  he  anticipated  distinguished 
laurels  of  glory — not  less  than  what  would  be  obtained  by 
their  first  commander. 

When  these  Kings  with  their  forces  had  all  arrived  at  Tal- 
anga,  the  Emper  Rambock  ordered  them  to  parade  on  a  great 
plain.  They  obeyed  and  were  formed  in  solid  collums.  The 
Emperor,  then,  attended  by  his  son  Moonrod,  his  Councellors  & 
the  high  Priest,  presented  himself  before  them — His  garments 
glitered  with  ornaments — '•&  a  bunch  of  long  feathers  of  var- 
ious colours  were  placed  on  the  front  of  his  Cap.  His  sword 
he  held  in  his  right  hand,  and  being  tall  and  strait  in  his 
person,  &  having  a  countenance  grave  &  bold,  when  he 
walked  his  appearance  was  majestic.  He  was  the  commander 
in  chief — &  such  was  the  high  esteem  &  reverance  with  which 
the  whole  army  viewed  him,  that  none  were  considered  as 
being  so  worthy  of  that  station.  Taking  a  stand  in  front  of 
the  army,  he  brandished  his  sword — All  fixed  their  eyes  upon 
him  &  gave  profound  attention. — He  thus  made  an  address.— 
Brave  warriors.  It  is  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  &  joy  that 
I  now  behold  you  assembled  to  avenge  the  most  flagitious 
crimes,  of  which  man  was  ever  guilty. — Ingratitude  &  perfedy, 
seduction,  Robery  &  the  most  daring  impiety  against  heaven 
have  been  perpetrated  within  our  dominions — The  young 
prince  of  Kentuck  is  the  monster,  whose  has  been  guilty  of 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  83 

these  Crimes— Our  most  amiable  daughter  Lamesa  he  has 
seduced  &  contrary  to  our  will  has  transported  her  into  his 
own  country— wishing  to  avoid  the  effusion  of  human  blood 
we  offered  to  withhold  our  revenge  if  the  Emperor  of  Kentuck 
would  restore  our  Daughter.  But  he  has  refused— He  has 
implicated  himself  &  all  his  subjects  in  the  horrid  crimes 
of  his  son — Their  whole  land  is  now  guilty — &  every  man 
woman  &  child  are  the  proper  objects  of  severe  chastisement. 
—The  great  &  good  Being  is  indignant  towards  them,  [^  views 
them  with  the  utmost  detestation  &  abhorrance] — As  we  have 
received  our  power  from  him  he  requires,  that  we  should  not 
only  avenge  our  own  wrongs,  but  likewise  execute  his  veng- 
ence  on  those  perfiduous  ingrates  &  monsters,  [of  wickedness 
$  impiety] — That  this  is  his  divine  will  has  been  clearly  inves- 
tigated by  our  holy  prophets  &  priests — who  have  given  us 
the  most  [indubtidf]  positive  assurance  that  success  shall  attend 
our  arms — that  we  shall  be  enriched  with  the  plunder  of  our 
enimies — that  laurels  of  immortal  fame  will  crown  the  achiev- 
rnents  of  our  warriors — &  that  they  shall  be  [gloriously]  dis- 
tinguished on  the  plains  of  glory  like  Suns  &  Stars  in  the 
firmement  of  heaven — Our  cause  is  just — the  celestial  powers 
above  are  on  our  side — they  have  brandished  their  swords  & 
sworn— that  blood  shall  deluge  the  fair  Land  of  Kentuck. 
You  have  done  well  my  brave  warriors,  that  you  have  assem- 
bled around  the  standard  of  your  Emperor — I  will  conduct 
you  to  the  field  of  Battle  &  direct  your  movements — My  son 
Moonrod,  whose  arm  like  mine  is  not  enfebled  by  age,  will 
mingle  with  the  boldest  combatants  &  lead  you  on  to  victory. 
—By  the  most  valorous  exploits  by  blood  &  slaughter  we  will 
convince  our  enimies  that  we  are  not  cowards  &  poltroons — 
Their  ridecule  and  derision  shall  be  turned  into  mourning  & 
lamentation-2— &  we  will  teach  their  effeminate  &  luxurious 
Goverment  not  to  dispise  the  hardy  &  brave  sons  of  Sciota. 
In  full  confidence  that  we  shall  gloriously  triumph — &  add 
immortal  lustre  to  our  names,  we  will  now  march  forward — 


84  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

[we  will']  &  avenge  the  injuries  done  to  the  honour  of  our 
imperial  goverment  &  the  rights  of  our  empire — &  all  the 
celestial  beings  above  shall  rejoice  in  the  execution  of  divine 
vengence.  He  said  no  more — the  whole  army  with  one  voice 
proclaimed — Long  live  the  Emperor — We  swear  that  he  shall 
never  find  us  cowards  &  poltroons.  The  Emperor  then 
ordered  them  to  march  by  divisions  &  each  King  to  lead  on 
his  own  subjects.  They  began  their  march  towards  the  land 
of  Kentuck — Their  provisians  &  baggage  were  born  on  the 
backs  of  Mammouth — Each  man  had  a  sword  by  his  side  &  a 
spear  in  his  hand — &  on  their  breasts  down  to  their  hips  &  on 
their  thighs  they  wore  pieces  of  mamouth  skins  to  guard  them 
from  arrows  &  the  weapons  of  death — &  on  their  Caps  they 
wore  bunches  of  long  feathers.  Their  garments  were  short, 
so  as  not  to  encumber  them  in  battle. — Thus  equipt  &  orni- 
mented  they  moved  on  in  exact  order  until  they  arived  at  the 
great  River — Here  they  halted  to  provide  boats  to  transport 
them  across — Their  baggage  &  provisions  were  carried  on  the 
backs  of  their  mammouth  which  carrid  prodigious  loads.— 
And  here  we  will  leave  them  for  the  present  &  take  a  view 
of  the  proceedings  at  Kentuck. — 

When  Labanco  had  presented  to  Hamboon  the  Emperor 
of  Kentuck  the  declaration  of  war  &  related  the  proceedings 
of  the  Sciotan  goverment,  he  immediately  assembled  his  Coun- 
cellors,  who  unanimously  agreed  to  make  the  most  active  & 
vigorous  preparation  for  war. — The  Emperor  sent  forth  his 
mandates  to  all  the  princes  of  his  empire  requiring  them  to 
assemble  the  most  couragious  warriors  in  their  respective 
kingdoms,  &  to  march  to  the  City  of  Gamba. — All  the  princes 
of  the  empire  were  quick  to  obey  the  requisition  of  their 
Sovereign.  The  army  assembled  and  paraded  on  a  great  plain 
before  the  City — Hamboon  attended  by  his  two  sons,  Elseon  & 
Hanock  &  by  his  councellors  &  three  of  his  principal  Priests 
walked  out  of  the  City  &  presented  himself  before  his  army. 
— His  garments  were  of  various  colours  &  his  cap  was  adorned 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  85 

with  a  bunch  of  beautiful  Feathers,  which  waved  high  in  the 
wind— In  his  left  hand  he  held  a  spear  &  in  his  right  a  sword 
— His  countenance  was  bold  &  resolute — &  such  was  his  grace- 
fulness &  elocution,  when  he  spoke,  that  all  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  him  &  all  ears  were  attention. 

My  brave  Sons  says  he,  I  extremely  regreted  the  necessity 
of  calling  you  from  your  peaceable  employments  to  engage  in 
the  blody  scenes  of  war — But  such  is  the  violence  the  malice 
&  ambition  of  the  Sciotan  government  that  nothing  will  satisfy 
them  but  hostilities  between  the  empires — They  have  pro- 
claimed war,  even  a  war  of  extermination  against  our  domin- 
ions— Nor  was  it  in  our  power  to  prevent  this  most  dreadful 
calamity   unless    we    tore    assunder    the    bond    of   wedlock 
befwen  the  prince  and  the  princis  of  the  Empire  &  transported 
her  like  a  culprit  into  their  dominions.     This  was  the  only 
alternative  which  they  offered  to  accept  to  prevent  this  terrible 
crisis— &  why  the  vigor  of  this  demand — Was  it  because  the 
young  prince  had  violated  any  Law  either  human  or  divine — 
No— it  was  because  the  King  of  Sciota  had  fallen  in  love  with 
the  princis — &  wished  to  have  her  for  his  wife — But  as  she 
viewed  him  with  the  utmost  hatred  &  disgust,  he  has  been 
disappointed — To  gratify  his  malice  &  revenge  he  has  roused 
the  Sciotans  to  take  arms  &  threatens  to  deluge  our  cities  with 
the  blood  of  our  citizens  &  to  lay  our  country  in  ruins.     It  is 
a  war  on  their  part  to  gratify  malice  &  revenge — &  nothing 
will  satisfy  their  malignant  passions  but  our  complete  exter- 
mination— On  our  part  it  is  a  war   of  self  defence — of   self 
preservation — a  defence  which  will  extend  to  our  wives  &  our 
children  &  to  all  the  blessings  &  endearments  of  life.     We 
must  either  submit  to  behold  [our  dearest  friends  expiring  in 
agonies,]  our  property  torn  from  us,  our  houses  in  flames — & 
our  dearest  friends  expiring  in  agonies,  &  like  cowards  suffer 
them  without  resistance  to  cut  our  own  throats,— or  we  must 
meet  them,  like  men  determined  to  vindicate  our  rights— &  to 
retaliate  all  their  intended  mischief.     Nor  need  we  fear  the 


86 

event  of  the  contest — Infinite  benevolence  will  regard  our 
situation,  &  grant  us  that  assistance  which  will  give  success 
to  our  efforts — You  my  brave  sons  will  be  inspired  with 
courage— Your  hands  will  be  strong  for  the  Battle  &  their 
warriors  will  fall  before  you  like  corn  before  the  repers  sickel 
— With  all  their  mighty  boasting,  &  high  confidence  in 
superior  cunnig  &  pro wes— they  are  men  formed  of  the  same 
material  which  we  possess — Our  swords  will  find  a  passage  to 
their  hearts— &  the  vital  blood  gushing  forth,  they  will  fall 
prostrate  at  our  feet.  Let  us  march  then  with  courage  to  meet 
the  implacable  foe— determined  either  to  die  gloriously  fight- 
ing— or  to  obtain  victory. — 

Having  thus  spoken — The  whole  army,  with  a  loud  voice, 
replied — Victory  or  death — Lead  us  on  to  victory.  At  the 
head  of  this  army,  which  consisted  of  one  hundred  &  fifty  thou- 
sand men,  he  marched  towards  the  great  River — They  arrived 
on  the  Bank  &  beheld  the  Sciotans,  all  busily  employed  in 
making  preparation  to  cross  the  River. 

The  Empress — the  princis  Lamesa,  &  the  Emperors 
daughters  attended  by  a  few  friends  &  their  servants;  arived 
at  the  place  where  the  army  was  encaped — As  soon  as  Elseon 
heard  the  news  of  their  arival,  he  hastened  to  the  place,  & 
found  the  company  had  alighted  [at  an  house]  &  that  Lamesa 
&  her  friend  Holiza  were  in  a  room  by  themselves — As  soon 
as  he  entered  Lamesa  arose— The  gloom  &  anxiety  which  for 
a  number  of  days  were  visible  in  her  countenance,  at  his 
appearance  were  dispelled — He  received  her  into  his  arms 
with  an  affectionate  embrace — &  expressed  the  greatest  pleas- 
ure at  seeing  her  once  more.  The  tears  ran  down  his  cheeks 
—for  a  moment  she  was  silent — She  raised  her  head  &  replied 
— 0  Elseon  were  it  not  for  you  I  should  be  the  most  wretched 
being  in  existence  &  yet  my  love  for^ou  has  been  the  cause 
of  all  my  present  affliction. — If  I  never  had  seen  you,  those 
horrid  prospects  which  now  present  themselves  to  my  view, 
would  never  have  been — But  you  are  innocent — nor  am  I 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  87 

guilty  of  any  crime.  But  how  can  I  endure  to  behold  the 
calamities  which  must  fall  upon  both  nations  in  consequence 
of  our  connection? — Two  empires  at  war,  spreading  carnage 
&  ruin — warriors  bleeding  on  the  field  of  Battle — innocent 
women  &  children  screiching  in  the  agonies  of  death — & 
towns  &  cities  in  flames — Ah  horrid  prospect — Have  you 
&  I  my  dear  Elseon  produced  these  dreadful  calamities?  [Is 
our  conduct  the  cause  which  must.~\  We  are  not,  says  he  my  dear 
Lamesa,  responsible  for  the  horrid  effects  of  malice  &  revenge, 
which  may  be  occationed  by  our  innocent  conduct.  If  men 
will  be  so  indignant  towards  each  other,  because  we  do  right 
as,  to  massacre  &  do  all  the  mischief  they  can,  we  may  deplore 
their  weakness  &  depravity  —  but  have  no  more  reason,  to 
make  ourselves  unhappy  on  the  account,  than  if  these  effects 
were  by  some  other  cause — They  alone  are  responsible  for 
their  crimes — &  have  reason  for  unhappy  reflections. — 

But  how  can  I  endure  says  she,  to  behold  my  dearest 
friends,  become  each  others  implacable  enimy?  To  see  them 
mutually  engaged  to  destroy  each  others  life? — My  Father, 
for  whom  I  ever  had  the  greatest  affection — &  my  only  Brother 
are  now  at  the  head  of  one  .hostile  army — And  your  Father 
&  you  my  dearest  husband  are  at  the  head  of  the  other — 
When  these  armies  meet  would  you  not  plunge  your  sword 
into  the  heart  of  my  father  &  my  brother — &  would  they  not 
do  the  same  by  you  if  in  their  power?  When  such  scenes 
present  themselves  to  my  view  they  pierce  my  soul  like  dagers 
— &  produce  the  keenest  anguish — 0  that  I  could  fly  to  my 
Father,  &  on  my  bended  knees  implore  forgiveness.  Yes  says 
Elseon,  &  when  you  have  done  that,  he  will  give  you  to  the 
mighty  Sambol  for  his  wife — 

No  never,  says  she,  never  would  I  submit — I  abhor  the 
monstre  more  than  ever — He  is  the  most  malignant  scoundrel 
in  existance — To  gratify  his  revenge  whole  empires  must  be 
laid  in  ruins,  What  punishment  more  just  than  that  he  him- 
self should  fall  in  battle,  &  endure  the  agonies  which  his 


88 

vengful  soul  is  bringing  on  others. — But  as  for  my  father  & 
my  brother,  they  have,  by  his  artifices  been  deceived — I  con- 
jure you,  if  you  have  any  regard  for  my  happiness,  not  to  take 
their  lives  if  in  your  power. 

Their  lives  says  he  are  safe  from  my  sword — Rather  that 
my  hands  should  be  stained  with  the  blood  of  your  dearest 
friends  I  will  present  my  bosom  to  their  swords — But  hark — 
there  is  an  alarm — An  express  arived  &  informed  him,  that 
the  Sciotan  army  had  found  means  to  get  their  Boats  down 
the  Eiver  in  the  night  unperceived — &  had  landed,  without 
opposition,  about  three  miles  below  the  Kentuckian  encamp- 
ment.—Elseon  then  embraced  his  wife  &  said,  when  your  pro- 
tection &  my  honour  call,  I  must  obey. — He  left  her  in  tears 
imploring  heaven  to  protect  him — &  running  swiftly  to  the 
armv  he  took  his  station. 


CHAP— XIV— 

Hamboon  mounted  on  an  eligant  Horse  richly  caparo- 
soned,  rode  thro'  the  encampment — proclaiming  aloud  every 
man  to  his  station,  seize  your  arms  &  prepare  for  battle — All 
his  princes  quick  to  obey  their  commander,  instantly  repaired 
to  their  respective  divisions—  &  gave  orders  to  form  the  men 
into  solid  columns — When  this  was  done — they  marched  a 
small  distance  &  paraded  on  the  great  plain  of  Geheno— They 
were  now  prepared  for  the  hostile  engagement — Their  officers 
of  the  highest  Ranks  marched  along  in  front  of  their  divisions 
— &  by  their  speaches  inspired  the  men  with  boldness  & 
courage — They  ardently  wished  to  behold  their  enemies — & 
to  have  an  opportunity  of  displaying  their  valour  in  their  des- 
truction. Hamboon  then  commanded  his  principal  officers 
to  assemble  around  him — When  they  were  collected,  which 


89 

was  in  front  of  the  army,  he  then  addressed  them. — I  wish  for 
your  opinion,  my  brave 


Here  a  leaf  (pages  143  <fe  144)  of  the  Manuscript  is  missing.    Page  145 
proceeds  as  follows: 


<fe  heroic  Commanders,  had  each  a  chosen  band  of  warriors, 
who  were  ordered  as  soon  as  the  battle  should  begin,  to  march 
between  the  divisions,  &  charge  the  enimy,  [in  order  to  break 
their  order  &  throw  them  into  confusion] — The  design  of  this 
arangement  was  to  break  the  Ranks  &  throw  them  into  con- 
fusion. The  command  of  these  bands  were  given  to  Elseon, 
Labanko,  Hanock,  &  two  counsellors  of  the  Emperor  Hamul 
&  Taboon. — The  momentous  period  had  arived — Each  grand 
army  were  now  ready — were  anxious  for  the  combat,  &  san- 
guine in  their  expectations  of  obtaining  a  glorious  victory. — 
Musicians  with  instruments  of  various  kinds,  were  now  play- 
ing thro'  every  division  of  both  armies — They  blowed  horns, 
pipes  &  a  kind  of  Trumpet— &  beat  with  sticks  on  little  tubs 
whose  heads  were  formed  of  parchment. — The  melody  was 
truely  martial  &  calculated  to  inspire  each  warrior  with  an 
ardent  desire  for  battle  &  the  most  daring  heroism — All  was 
husht — The  musicians  fell  back  in  the  rear — There  was  a  per- 
fect silence  thro'  both  armies. — Each  Emperor  with  their 
swords  brandishing  were  in  front  &  facing  their  respective 
.armies.  Near  three  hundred  thousand  spears  were  glittering 
with  the  reflection  of  sun  beams — Not  a  cloud  to  be  seen  in 
the  east — The  sun  shone  with  his  usial  brightness— In  the  west 
a  dark  cloud  began  to  arise  &  distant  thunder  was  heard  to 
rumble.— Rambock  proclaimed  with  a  voice  which  was  heard 
from  the  right  to  the  left— March — march,  my  brave  warriors— 
&  fight  like  heroes. — Hamboon  saw  them  beginning  to  move- 
but  not  changing  his  countenance  which  was  placid  &  bold — 
he  proclaimed— Stand  firm,  my  brave  sons — Let  your  arrows 
fly  thick  against  your  enimies  as  they  advance — &  finish  with 


90  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

your  spears  &  your  swords  their  destruction. — The  musick 
again  played  &  both  armies  gave  a  tremendous  shout —  [Spears 
&  swords]  When  the  Sciotans  had  advanced,  with  a  firm  <fc 
moderate  step,  within  a  small  distance  of  Hamboons  army, 
both  armies  discharged  arrows  with  such  unerring  aim  & 
celerity,  that  many  brave  warriors  on  both  sides  fell  prostrate 
— others  were  sorely  wounded  &  retired  back  in  the  rear— 
Their  places  were  immediately  supplied  &  the  second  Rank 
colosed  &  took  their  stations  in  the  fight — Each  man  fixing  his 
spear  horizontaly  &  about  as  high  as  his  breast,  the  Sciotans 
rushed  forward  with  hedious  yels  &  horrible  shouting  &  made 
a  most  tremendous,  &  furious  charge  upon  the  Kentucks— 
They  received  them  with  firmness  &  courage — Spears  met 
spears  —many  were  bent  and  broken — &  others  were  thrust, 
on  both  sides  into  bodies  of  Heroes,  whose  blood  gushing  forth, 
they  fell  with  horrid  groans,  pale  &  lifeless  on  the  sanguine 
plain.  Neither  army  gave  back  but  being  nearly  equal  as  to 
strength  &  numbers  they  poured  forth  upon  each  other  with  a 
lavish  hand  the  implements  of  death  &  destruction- 
Determined  to  conquer  or  die,  it  was  impossible  to  con- 
jecture which  Emperor  would  have  gained  the  victory  had  the 
divisions  or  bands  in  the  rear  of  each  army  remained 
inactive.  But  anxious  to  engage  with  the  boldest  warriors,  the 
Kentuck-Bands,  led  on  by  their  heroic  princes,  rushed  between 
the  division  of  the  grand  army  &  made  a  most  furious  charge 
upon  the  Sciotans — They  broke  thro' their  Ranks — peircing  with 
deadly  wounds  their  indignant  foes — heroes  fell  before  them— 
&  many  of  the  Sciotans  being  struck  with  surprise  &  terror 
began  to  retire  back — But  the  bands  in  the  rear  of  their  army 
instantly  rushed  forward  &  met  their  furious  combitants— The 
battle  was  now  spread  in  every  direction.  Many  valiant  chiefs 
who  commanded  under  their  respective  Kings  were  overthrown 
— &  many  thousand  robost  &  brave  warriors,  whose  names 
were  not  distinguished  by  office,  were  compeled  to  receive 
deadly  wounds  &  to  bite  the  dust.— It  was  Elseon  fortune  to 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  91 

attack  the  division  led  by  the  valiant  Ramoff— He  broke  his 
ranks  &  killed  many  warriors — while  driving  them  furiously 
before  him — he  met  Hamkol  at  the  head  of  many  thousand 
Sciotans — Hamkol  beheld  the  young  Prince  &  knew  him  & 
being  fired  with  the  greatest  rage  &  thirst  for  revenge,  he 
urged  on  the  combat  with  the  most  daring  violence  Now  he 
thot,  was  a  favorable  chance  to  gain  immortal  renown — Elseon 
says  he  shall  feel  the  effects  of  my  conquering  sword — The 
warriors  on  both  side  charged  each  other  with  incredible  fury 
— &  Elseon  &  Hamkol  met  in  the  center  of  their  divisions — I 
have  found  you  says  Hamkol  perfiduous  monster — I  will  teach 
you  to  rob  our  empire  of  its  most  valuable  treasure — He 
spoke  &  Elseon  replied — Art  thou  Hamkol  the  Counsellor  of 
Rambock  Your  advice  has  produced  this  blood  and  slaughter 
— Hamkol  raised  his  sword  &  had  not  Elseon  defended  him- 
self from  the  blow,  he  never  would  have  spoken  again — But 
quick  as  the  lightning  Elseon  darted  his  sword  thro'  his  heart 
— [Hamkol]  knashed  his  teeth  together  &  [with  a  groan]  tumb- 
ling headlong  with  a  groan  expired.— 

The  battle  raged — Labanko  attacked  the  division  of 
Sambal  —  His  conquering  sword  had  killed  two  daring 
chiefs — &  his  Band  performed  the  most  brilliant  exploits 
— Sambol  met  him  &  like  an  indignant  panther,  he 
sprang  upon  him,  &  while  Labanko  was  engaged  in  com- 
bat with  another  chief,  Sambol  thurst  his  sword  into  his 
side — Thus  Labanko  fell  lamented  &  beloved  by  all  the 
subjects  of  the  empire  of  Kentuck — [Hanocfc]  His  learning 
wisdom  &  penetration  of  mind — his  integrity,  firmness  & 
courage  had  gained  him  universal  respect  &  given  him 
a  commanding  influence  over  the  Emperor  &  his  other  Coun- 
cellors — He  was  viewed  with  such  respect  &  reverence,  that 
the  death  of  no  man  could  have  produced  more  grief  &  lamen- 
tation— &  excited  in  the  minds  of  the  Ken  tucks  a  more  ardent 
thirst  for  revenge. — The  officers  of  his  phalanx  exclaimed 
revenge  the  death  of  Labanko— Even  lightning  could  not 


92  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

have  produced  a  more  instantaneous  effect.-— With  tenfold 
rage  &  fury  his  warriors  maintained  the  conflict  &  redubled 
their  efforts  in  spreading  death  &  carnage — The  mighty  Sam- 
bal  trembled  at  the  slaughter  of  his  [subjects]  warriors  &  began 
to  dispair  of  victory — [he  began  to]  fearing  that  his  intended 
revenge  was  turning  upon  his  own  head. — During  this 
slaughter  of  Sambals  forces  Hanock  was  engaged  in  battle 
with  Habelan  King  of  Chianga — No  part  of  the  war  raged 
with  more  a  equal  balance — Warriors  met  warriors  with  such 
equal  strength  &  courage  that  it  was  impossible  to  determine 
on  which  side  was  the  greatest  slaughter — even  their  heroic 
chiefs  prudently  avoided  a  combat  with  each  other  &  emploid 
their  swords  in  overthrowing  those  of  less  distinction,  the 
field  was  covered  with  the  bodies  of  heroes,  besmeared  with 
blood,  which  was  spread  thick  on  every  side. — In  the  mean- 
time Hamul  &  Taboon  who  led  on  the  other  reserved  bands  of 
the  Kentucks  were  fiercely  engaged  in  spreading  the  war  thro' 
the  ranks  of  the  Sciotans— Hamul  compelled  the  division 
commanded  by  Sabamah  to  fall  back — but  still  they  fought, 
as  they  slowly  retreated — &  being  reinforced  by  a  body  of 
troops  in  their  rear  they  continued  the  conflict  &  maintained 
their  position — The  slaughter  was  emence  &  each  party  boasted 
of  the  most  brilliant  atchievments. — 

Taboon  made  his  attack  on  the  division  of  Ulipoon  com- 
manded by  Hamelick — The  Sciotan  ranks  were  broken  &  they 
must  have  fled  in  confusion  had  not  Rameck  supported  them 
with  his  warlike  band — The  contest  now  became  [bloody] 
furious— &  equal  feats  of  valour  were  displaied  by  contending 
heroes.  The  thirsty  earth  was  overspread  with  the  dead  & 
dying  bodies  of  thousands  &  saciated  its  thirst  by  copious 
draughts  of  human  blood — Hamelick  himself  was  slain — 
But  not,  until  after  his  sword  was  crimsoned  with  the  blood 
of  his  enimies. 

The  dubious  war  appeared  at  last  determined — Hambock 
beheld  his  army  giving  ground  on  every  part — He  rode 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  93 

through  their  divisions  &  endeavoured  to  inspire  them  with 
persevering  courage — But  in  vain  they  could  not  withstand  the 
impetuosity,  the  numbers  &  strength  of  their  Enimies— aided 
by  the  advantage  they  had  obtained  by  the  arangement  [they 
had  made]  to  manage  the  conflict — The  Sciotans  began  to 
retreat — &  such  was  the  situation  of  both  armies  that  [they] 
the  Sciotans  must  [/&ave]  principally  have  been  overthrow  & 
destroyed  if  the  Kentucks  had  been  permited  to  continue  the 
havock  &  slaughter  they  had  begun.     But  how  often  are  the 
most  sanguine  expectations   disappointed  by  the  decrees  of 
Heaven? — At  this  awful  period — whilst  the  atmosphere  was 
replete  with  the  multifarious  sounds  of  the  clashing  of  swords 
&  spears— the  melody  of  [the]  martial  musick — the  shouts  of 
the  conquerors  &  the  shrieks  &  groans  of  the  dying,  even  then 
the  heavens  were  overspread  with  clouds  of  the  most  sable 
hue,  which  had  blown  from  the  west — The  thunders  roared 
tremendously— &  the   flashes   of   hightning   were    incessant. 
The  wind  began  to  blow  from  the  west  with  great  violence — 
the   hail  poured  down    from  the  clouds  &  was  carried  with 
great  velocity  full  in  the  faces  of  the  Kentucks — They  were 
unable  to  see  their  enimy  or  continue  the  pursuit. — Rambock 
&  his  princes  immediately   ralied  their  retreating  forces,  & 
facing  round  encouraged  them  to  fight  courageously  since  the 
great  &  good  Being   had   miraculously   interposed   in   their 
behalf.     The  Kentuck  army  were  unable  to  continue  the  con- 
flict.— They  were  obliged  in  their  turn,  to  retreat.     But  such 
was  the  violence  of  the  storm  that  the  Sciotans  could  not  take 
any  great  advantage  of  the  confusion  of  their  armies — They 
however  pursued  them  to  the  hill  which  had  been  in  the  rear 
of  the  Kentucks — overthrowing  &  kiling  some  in  the  pursuit. 
— But  as  the  hill  was  overspread  with  trees  which  broke  the 
violence  of  the  wind,  Hamboon  commanded  his  men  to  face 
their  pursuers — The  Sciotans  finding  that  their  enimies  had 
the  advantage  of  the  ground  \_&  being  intolerably  fatigued  with  a 
battle  which  had  lasted  near  four  hours,]  retired  a  small  distance 


94  THE 

back — &  as  soon  as  the  storm  abated  they  inarched  beyond 
the  ground  which  was  strewed  thick  with  the  slain.— [Thus 
ended  the  great  battle  on  the  plains  of  Geheno] — There  they 
encamped — and  as  the  storm  had  now  subsided  both  armies 
proceeded  to  make  provision  to  refresh  themselves,  being 
nearly  exhausted  by  the  fatigues  of  a  most  bloody  contest 
which  had  lasted  nearly  five  hours.  That  day  afforded  them 
no  time  to  bury  their  dead — The  Sun  did  not  tarry  in  his 
course  but  hid  himself  below  the  Horizon  &  darkness  spread 
itself  over  the  face  of  the  earth — The  warriors  with  their 
spears  in  their  hands  extended  themselves  upon  the  earth,  & 
spent  the  night  in  rest  &  sleep — Next  morning  they  arose  with 
renovated  vigor.  Their  tho'ts  were  immediately  turned  to  the 
sanguine  field — Many  warriors  say  they  lie  there,  pierced  with 
mortal  wounds  &  covered  with  blood — Their  spirits  have 
assumed  etheriel  bodies  &  they  are  now  receiving  the  rewards 
assigned  to  the  brave  on  the  plains  of  glory — but  they 
demand  of  us  that  we  should  secure  their  remains  from  the 
voracious  jaws  of  carniverous  Beasts,  by  interring  them  in  the 
earth.  But  how  can  this  be  done  unless  both  armies  will 
mutuall}"  agree  to  lay  down  their  arms  during  the  interment 
of  the  remains  of  their  respective  warriors.  Hamboon  dis- 
pached  a  Messenger  to  Rambock,  who  agreed  to  an  armistice 
for  the  term  of  two  days  &  that  ten  thousand  men  might  be 
employed  from  each  army  in  burying  the  dead. — 

It  was  indeed  a  meloncolly  day. — The  contest  was  not 
desided— Neither  army  had  gained  a  victory  or  had  reason  to 
boast  of  any  superior  advantages  obtained  or  any  heroic 
atcheivments,  which  were  not  matched  by  contending  war- 
riors. An  emence  slaughter  was  made.  Near  one  hundred 
thousand  were  extended  breathless  on  the  field — This  was  only 
the  beginning  of  the  war — :&  what  must  be  its  dreadful  calami- 
ties if  it  should  continue  to  rage — if  a  few  more  battles  should 
be  faught  &  the  infuriated  Conqueror  should  turn  his  vengful 
sword,  against  defencless  women  &  children  &  mingle  their 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND.''  95 

blood  with  the  blood  of  heroes,  who  had  fallen  bravely  fight- 
ing in  their  defence.  When  both  armies  viewed  the  emence 
slaughter  that  had  been  made  of  their  respective  friends — 
instead  of  cooling  their  ardor  for  the  war,  it  only  served  to 
encrease  their  malice  &  their  thirst  for  revenge. — 

[Ten  thousand  men  from  each  army,  without  arms,  marched  to 
the  field  were  the  battle  was  f aught— &  having  selected  the  dead  bodies 
of  their  respective  warriors — they  carried  [them]  as  many  of  them 
together  as  what  could  be  done  with  convenience — &  then  digging 
into  the  ground  about  three  feet  deep  &  throwing  the  dirt  around  in 
a  circular  form  upon  the  edge  of  the  grave — they  then  deposited  the 
bodies  in  it,  covering  the  ground  over  which  they  had  dug  with  the 
bodies — &  then  placing  others  upon  them  until  the  whole  were 
deposited — they  then  proceeded  to  thro?  dirt  upon  them  to  raise  over 
them  a  high  mound — In  this  manner  they  proceeded  until  they  had 
finished  the  interment.  The  bodies  of  the  Chiefs  that  were  slain, 
were  carried  to  their  respective  armies — &  performing  many  cus- 
tomary sollemnities  of  woe,  they  were  intered  &  prodigious  mounds 
of  earth  were  raised  over  them. — After  the  funeral  rites  were 
finished  &  the  armistice  had  expired,  the  hostile  Emperors  must  now 
determine  on  their  further  plans  of  operation] 

The  field  was  widely  strewed,  &  in  many  places  thickly 
covered  with  human  bodies — extended  in  various  positions — 
on  their  sides  their  backs  &  faces — [some  with  their  arms  &  legs 
widely  spread  some  with  their  mouths  open  &  eyes  stairing] — mangled 
with  swords  spears  &  arrows  &  besmeared  with  blood  &  dirt — 
Most  hedious  forms  &  dreadful  to  behold!  Such  objects 
excited  horror  &  all  the  sympethetic  &  compassionate  feelings 
of  the  human  heart.— 

As  both  Emperors  had  agreed  to  the  suspension  of  arms 
for  the  purpose  of  burying  the  Eemalns  of  those  [of  the]  heroic 
warriors  ten  thousand  men  from  each  army  entered  the  field 
&  began  the  mournful  employment— They  dug  holes  about 
three  feet  deep  &  in  a  circular  form  &  of  about  twenty  or 
thirty  feet  diameter.  In  these  they  deposited  the  bodies  of 


96 

their  deceased  heroes  &  then  raised  over  them  large  mounds 
of  earth— The  bodies  of  the  chiefs  who  had  fallen  were  carried 
to  their  respective  armies  &  buried,  with  all  the  sollemnities 
of  woe — over  them  they  raised  prodigious  mounds  of  earth — 
which  will  remain  for  ages,  as  monuments  to  commemorate 
the  valiant  feats  of  these  heroes  of  the  great  Battle  of  Geheno. 
— After  the  funeral  Rites  were  finished — &  the  armistice  had 
expired,  the  hostile  Emperors  must  now  determine  on  further 
plans  of  operation 

Rambock  requested  the  advice  of  his  principal  officers, 
who  were  unanimous  in  opinion,  that  it  was  their  best  policy 
to  retire  back  [to  retire  bacTc]  to  the  hill  which  was  opposite  to 
the  place  where  they  landed — &  there  wait  for  reinforcements. 
This  they  effected  the  next  night  without  being  perceived  by 
their  Enimy. — Hamboon  the  next  day  marched  towards 
them — but  not  thinking  it  good  policy  to  attack  them  at 
present,  took  possession  of  a  hill  in  plain  view  of  the  Sciotans 
&  there  encamped  with  his  whole  army. 

As  the  Sciotans  sallied  out  in  parties  to  plunder  &  to 
ravage  the  country,  these  were  pursud,  overtaken  or  met  by 
parties  of  the  Kentucks — Many  bloody  skirmishes  ensued 
with  various  success  &  many  feats  of  heroism  were  displaid 
on  both  sides.  Wherever  the  Sciotans  marched  devastation 
attended  their  steps  —  &  all  classes  of  people  without  distinc- 
tion of  age  or  sex,  who  fell  into  their  hands  became  the  vic- 
tims of  their  infuriated  malice— The  extermination  of  the 
Kentucks  appeared  to  be  their  object,  not  considering  that 
it  might  soon  be  their  turn  to  have  such  horrid  cruelties 
retaliated  upon  them  with  a  three-fold  vengence.  They  like- 
wise had  a  further  object  in  view,  which  was  to  provoke  Ham- 
boon  to  attack  the  main  army,  whilst  posted  in  an  advanta- 
geous situation. — But  it  was  Hamboon's  policy  by  placing 
garrison  in  different  stations  &  by  patroling  parties  to  prevent 
the  Sciotans  from  plundering  &  destroying  his  town— &  from 
geting  provisions  from  his  country— &  in  this  way  to  compel 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  97 

them  to  cross  the  River  or  to  attack  his  army  in  the  position 
he  had  taken.     While  the  two  Emperors  were  thus  manoever- 
ing— &  seeking  by  various  arts  &  stratigems  to  gain  advantage 
over  each  other,  a  very  extraordinary  [instance  of  heroism  & 
the   display   of  the  most  sincere  &  ardent  friendship  transpired 
which  is  worthy  a  place  on  the  historic  page,~\ — instance  trans- 
pired of  heroism  and  friendship — In  the  dominions  of  Ham- 
boon  there  lived  two  young  men  who  were  bred  in  the  same 
vilage — Having  minds  formed  for  the  exercise  of  the  noblest 
principles  &  possessed  of  congenial  tempers  they  early  con- 
tracted the  greatest  intimacy,  &  formed  toward  each  other  the 
strongest  attachment. — They  joined  the  standard  of  Hamboon 
&  in  the  great  battle  of  Geheno  they  faught  side  by  side  & 
performed  exploits  equally  bold  and  heroic. — They  eat  at  the 
same  board  &  drank  of  the  same  cup — &  in  all  their  excur- 
sions they  attended  each  other  &  walked  hand  in  hand. — As 
these  two  friends  were  setiiig  in  their  tent  one   evening— 
Thelford  who  was  the  oldest  says  to   Hamkien   something 
whispers  me;  that  this  night  we  can  perform  a  most  brilliant 
exploit — The  Sciotans  have  held  a  great  festival  &  until  mid- 
night they  will  be  emploied  in  music  &  dancing  &  in  various 
diversions — Being  greatly  fatigued,  when  they  lie  down  to 
rest,  their  sleep  will  be  sound — We  may  then, enter  their  camp 
[by  slyly  geting  round  their  by  their  centinel~\  unperceived  &  make 
a  most  dreadful  slaughter. — Your  plan,  replied  Hamkien,  is 
excellent,  it  is  worthy  the  character  of  an  hero. — I  will  join 
you— &  will  either  triumph  with  you  in  the  success  of  the 
enterprise  or  perish  in  the  attempt.     Perhaps  we  may  atcheive 
a  glorious  deliverance  to  our  country,  by  destroying  our  cruel 
enimies.      They   both   taking   their  swords   and   tomehauks 
repaired  towards  the  camp  of  the  Sciotans  in  order  to  reconoi- 
ter  &  find  where  they  could  enter  &  not  be  perceived  by  the 
centinals — The  Moon  shone  bright  but  would  set  about  three 
0  clock  in  the  Morning— this  was  the  time  they  had  fixed 
upon  to  begin  the  massacre  of  their  enimies — At  length  all 


98 

became  silent — the  Moon  disappeared  &  these  young  heroes 
had  accomplished  their  plan  in  geting  into  the  camp  of  the 
Sciotans  unperceived.  They  found  them  lying  in  a  profound 
sleep — for  the  fatigues  of  the  day  &  revels  of  the  night  had 
bro't  weariness  upon  them — &  considering,  when  they  lay 
down  that  the  vigelence  of  their  guards  would  secure  them 
from  surprise,  they  slept  with  unusial  soundness — but  +heir 
vigelence  could  not  prevent  an  unspected  destruction.  The 
Tomehauks  and  swords  of  these  daring  youth,  soon  caused 
hundreds  to  sleep  in  eternal  slumbers — &  so  anxious  were  they 
to  finish  the  destruction  of  their  enimies,  that  the  day  began 
to  dawn  before  they  had  cleared  themselves  from  their  camp 
\_oftheirenimies] — Scarce  however  had  they  past  the  last  cen- 
tinal,  &  the  alarm  was  given — The  Sciotans  beheld  a  most 
terrible  slaughter,  of  their  warriors  &  being  fired  with  indig- 
nation sallied  forth  in  parties  in  every  direction — Kelsock  & 
Hamkoo  had  nearly  gained  the  encampment  of  the  Kentucks 
&  Haboon  with  a  party  of  Sciotans  had  overtaken  Hamko — 
Kelsock  was  so  far  in  advance,  that  he  was  now  safe  from  all 
danger — but  turning  his  eyes  round  he  beheld  Hakoon  seize 
his  friend,  who  was  attempting  to  defend  himself  against  the 
party — Kelsock  turned  instantly,  and  running  furiously  back 
cried,  Spare  0  spare  the  youth,  he  is  innocent — I  alone  con- 
trived the  slaughter  of  the  Sciotans — too  much  love  to  his 
friend  induced  him  to  join  me  in  the  enterprise — Here  is  my 
bosom — here  take  your  revenge — Scarce  had  he  spoken  & 
Haboon  plunged  his  sword  into  the  Heart  of  Hamko. — The 
young  hero  fell— &  with  a  groan  expired — Kelsock  instantly 
rushed  upon  Haboon  &  darted  his  sword  thro'  his  heart- 
prostrate  he  tumbled  at  the  feet  of  Hamkoo— but  Kelsock 
could  not  long  survive— a  spear  pierced  him  in  the  side — he 
cast  his  eyes  on  the  lifeless  Body  of  his  friend  and  fell  upon 
[his  lifeless  body]  it — he  embraced  it  &  never  breathed  again— 
Ah  heroic  youths, — in  friendship  ye  lived — &  in  life  &  death 
you  were  joined. — 


99 

Forty  days  had  now  expired  since  the  two  armies  had 
taken  their  different  positions — Each  received  large  reinforce- 
ments which  supplied  the  places  of  the  slain.  Experience  had 
taught  them  to  use  stratigem  instead  of  attacking  under  great 
disadvantages,  &  yet  to  remain  long  in  their  present  situation 
could  not  possibly  terminate  the  war  successfully  on  the  part 
of  the  Sciotans — Rambock  considering  the  obsticles,  which 
attended  the  prosicution  of  every  plan,  at  last,  by  the  advice 
of  Sambal  &  Ulipoon,  determined  on  a  most  rash  &  desperate 
enterprise — an  enterprise  which  would  in  a  measure  saciate 
their  revenge,  provided  that  it  should  even  produce  the  anni- 
hilation of  their  army. — As  soon  as  darkness  had  overspread 
the  earth  at  night — Rambock  marched  his  whole  army 
towards  the  City  of  Gamba — &  such  was  the  stillness  of  their 
movements  that  they  were  not  perceived — nor  was  it  known 
by  Hamboon  that  they  had  marched  until  the  morning  light. 
— As  soon  as  the  Kentucks  perceived  that  the  Sciotans  had 
abandoned  the  place  of  their  encampment  &  found  the  direc- 
tion they  had  gone,  they  immediately  pursued  them  with  the 
utmost  expedition. — But  too  late  to  prevent  the  intended 
slaughter  &  devastation.  The  Sciotans  without  delaying  their 
march  by  attacking  any  forts  in  their  way,  merely  entered  the 
vilages,  killing  the  inhabitants  who  had  not  made  their  escape 
&  burning  their  houses — They  arived  before  the  City  of  Gamba 
— Great  indeed  was  the  surprise,  the  consternation  &  terror  of 
the  Citizens — Many  fled  to  the  fort — A  band  of  about  three 
thousand  resolute  warriors  sceized  their  arms,  determined  to 
risk  their  lives  in  the  defence  of  the  City.  The  leader  of  this 
band  was  Lamock  the  eldest  son  of  Labanko — He  inherited 
the  virtues  of  his  excellent  Father,  and  even  thirsted  to  avenge 
his  death  by  sacrificing  to  his  manes  the  blood  of  his  cruel 
enimies.  He  posted  his  warriors  in  a  narrow  passage  which 
led  to  the  City.— The  Sciotan  Emperor  immediately  formed 
his  plan  of  attack. — A  large  host  selected  from  all  the  grand 
divisions  of  his  army  marched  against  them — They  were  com- 


100  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

manded  by  Moonrod — He  led  them  against  this  gallant  & 
desperate  band  of  Kentucks,  &  made  a  most  furious  &  violent 
charge  upon  them,  But  they  were  resisted  with  a  boldness, 
which  will  forever  do  honour  to  their  emmortal  valour. — 
Many  hundreds  of  their  Enimies  they  pierced  with  their 
deadly  weapons  &  caused  heaps  of  them  to  lie  prostrate  in  the 
narrow  passage. — Such  prodigious  havock  was  made  on  the 
Sciotans  by  this  small  band  of  valiant  Citizens,  who  were 
driven  to  despiration  &  whose  only  object  was  to  sell  their 
lives  dear  to  their  enimies,  that  even  Moonrod  began  to  despair 
of  forcing  his  march  into  the  City  thro'  this  narrow  passage- 
Being  informed  by  a  treacherous  Kentuck  of  another  passage, 
he  immediately  dispatched  a  party  of  about  four  thousand 
from  his  band  to  enter  the  City  thro'  that  passage  &  to  fall 
upon  the  rear  of  the  Kentucks. — This  plan  succeeded — These 
heroes  now  found  the  war  to  rage  both  in  front  &  rear  &  part 
facing  their  new  assailants  they  attacked  them  [new  assailants] 
with  incredible  fury — What  could  they  do?  resistance  was 
now  in  vain.  They  could  no  longer  maintain  the  bloody  con- 
test against  such  a  mighty  host.  Lamock  then  commanded 
the  survivors  of  his  little  Band  to  break  thro'  the  ranks  of  his 
last  assailants  &  to  retreat,  [to  the  fort.]  It  was  impossible  to 
withstand  the  violence  of  their  charge — they  broke  thro'  the 
ranks  of  their  enimies  &  made  a  passage  over  the  bodies  of 
heroes,  thro'  which  they  retreated  &  marched  to  the  fort — 
About  seven  hundred  with  their  valiant  leader  thus  made 
their  escape,  [&  arived  safe  in  the  fort] — The  remainder  of  the 
three  thousand  sold  their  lives  in  defence  of  their  friends  & 
their  country — This  Battle  checked  the  progress  of  the  enimy 
which  prevented  an  emence  slaughter  of  citizens — as  the  great- 
est part  by  this  means  had  opportunity  to  gain  the  fort. 

As  soon  as  all  resistance  was  over  come  &  had  subsided, 
the  Sciotans  lost  no  time — but  marched  into  the  City  and  com- 
menced a  general  plunder  of  all  articles  which  could  con- 
veniently transported.  Ulipoon,  tho  careful  not  to  expose  his 


101 

person  to  the  deadly  weapons  of  an  enimy — was  however  very 
industrious  in  this  part  of  the  war — None  discovered  so  much 
engagedness  as  himself  to  grasp  the  most  valuable  property  in 
the  city. — But  expecting  the  Kentuck  army  to  arive  soon  they 
must  accomplish  their  mischief  with  the  utmost  expedition— 
The  City  they  sat  on  fire  in  various  places — &  then  retired 
back  and  encamped  near  the  fort,  intending  on  the  next  day, 
unless  prevented  by  the  arrival  of  Hamboon  with  his  army, 
to  storm  the  fort  &  massacre  the  whole  multitude  of  citizens 
which  were  there  collected. — Behold  the  conflagration  of  the 
City, — the  flames  in  curls  assend  towards  heaven — &  as  the 
darkness  of  the  Night  had  now  commenced— this  added  to  the 
horror  of  the  scene — The  illumination  spread  far  &  wide  & 
distant  vilages  beheld  the  redning  light  assend — as  a  certain 
pioneir  of  their  own  conflagration,  should  the  war  continue  to 
rage.  But  mark  the  sorrow  &  lamentation  of  the  poor  Citizens 
now  incircled  by  the  walls  of  a  fort — Happy  that  they  had 
escaped  the  intended  massacre  of  a  barberous  unrelenting 
Enimy — but  indignant  &  sorrowful  at  beholding  the  ruins  of 
all  their  property. — &  &  even  filled  with  the  greatest  anxiety 
lest  Hamboon  should  not  arive  in  season  to  prevent  the  storm  - 
ing  of  the  fort. — But  their  anxiety  soon  vanished.  When  the 
shades  of  evening  began  to  overspread  the  earth,  Hamboon  & 
his  army  had  arrived  within  five  miles  of  the  City.  They 
beheld  the  flames  beginning  to  assend.  The  idea  was  instantly 
reallized  that  an  indiscrimate  slaughter  had  taken  place. — 
[What  were  the  destracted  outcries  of  the  dwellers  of  the  City. — 
Fathers  &  mothers — Brothers  &  sisters,  wives  &  children.]  In 
addition  to  the  distruction  of  all  their  property,  they  now  had 
a  reallizing  anticipation  of  the  massacre  of  their  dearest  friends 
&  relation.  Such  was  their  anxiety  to  precipitate  their  march 
that  it  was  scarcely  in  the  power  of  their  commander  to  retard 
their  steps,  so  as  to  prevent  them  from  breaking  the  order  of 
their  ranks.  They  made  however  the  utmost  expedition — 
determined  if  they  found  their  enimy  to  take  ample  vengence 


102  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOTOP  " 

But  when  they  arrived  &  found  that  the  greatest  part  of  the 
citizens  were  in  the  fort  this  afforded  no  small  aleviation  to 
their  anxiety  &  grief — But  their  thirst  for  revenge  &  their 
ardent  desire  to  engage  the  enimy  in  battle  did  not  in  the  least 
abate. 

Determined  that  the  Sciotans  should  have  no  chance  to 
improve  the  darkness  of  the  ensuing  night  to  make  their 
escape — every  preparation  was  made  to  attack  them  the  next 
morning. — This  was  expected  by  the  Sciotans,  who  were  wish- 
ing for  another  opportunity  to  measure  swords  with  the  Ken- 
tucks.  &  as  soon  as  the  morning  light  appeared  they  marched 
a  small  distance  to  a  hill  &  [there]  the  army  paraded  in  proper 
order  for  battle. — Scarce  had  they  finished  their  arangements 
when  they  beheld  Hamboon's  Army  marching  towards  them 
—He  halted  within  about  half  a  mile  of  the  Sciotans — &  sent 
out  a  small  party  to  reconoiter  &  discover  their  situation — In 
the  mean  time  he  ordered  Hanock  [his  son]  to  march  with 
twelve  thousand  men  round  the  Sciotan  Army  &  lie  in 
ambush  in  their  rear  in  order  to  surprise  them  with  an  attack 
after  the  battle  should  commence. 

As  the  two  armies  were  paraded  in  fair  view  of  each  other 
the  expectation  was  that  a  most  bloody  engagement  would 
take  place  immediately. — The  cowardly  mind  of  Ulipoon  was 
not  a  little  terrified  when  he  beheld  the  number  &  martial 
appearance  of  the  Enimy — But  his  inventive  genius  was  not 
long  at  a  loss  for  an  expedient,  which  he  immagined  would 
extricate  himself  from  all  danger — He  repairs  to  Hambock  & 
addressed  him  to  this  effect.  May  it  please  your  majesty. 
During  the  first  battle  it  was  my  misfortune  to  be  prevented 
by  sickness  from  being  at  the  head  of  my  brave  warriors  & 
displying  my  valour.  It  is  my  wish  now  to  perform  feats  of 
heroism  which  shall  place  me  on  equal  ground  with  the  most 
valiant  princes  of  your  empire.— With  your  permission  I  will 
lead  on  my  division  &  storm  the  fort  of  the  Kentucks — This 
will  fill  their  warriors  with  consternation  &  terror— You  may 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  103 

then  obtain  an  easy  victory — &  and  destroy  them  with  as 
much  facility  as  you  would  so  many  porcupines. — Besides  by 
attacking  the  fort  at  this  time  when  they  are  not  expecting 
such  a  manoever — the  imperial  family  will  be  prevented  from 
making  their  escape  &  I  shall  then  be  able  to  restore  to  your 
majesty  your  daughter  Lamesa. — The  Emperor  being  pleased 
with  the  plan  granted  to  Ulipoon  his  permission  to  carry  it 
into  effect. — Ulipoon  did  not  wait  a  moment — But  immediately 
returned  back  and  commanded  his  forces,  which  consisted  of 
about  seventeen  thousand  to  march — He  was  careful  at  the 
same  time  to  see  that  they  carried  with  them  all  the  plunder 
they  had  taken  in  the  City  of  Gamba — &  particularly  that 
portion  which  had  been  set  apart  for  himself. — But  nothing 
was  farther  from  the  heart  of  Ulipoon  than  to  fulfil  his  pro- 
mise— He  had  no  intention  to  risk  his  person  in  the  hazardous 
attempt  to  storm  the  fort — but  his  determination  was  to  march 
with  the  utmost  expedition  to  his  own  dominions  &  to  carry 
with  him  his  rich  plunder. — Having  marched  towards  the 
fort  until  they  had  got  beyond  the  view  of  the  Sciotan  army — 
he  then  ordered  them  to  turn  their  course  towards  the  great 
River — to  the  place  where  the  left  their  boats.— In  this 
direction  they  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they  were 
seen  by  a  number  of  pioneirs,  whom  Hanock  had  sent  for- 
ward to  make  discoveries. — As  his  band  were  not  far 
distant  they  soon  gave  him  the  inteligence — He  immediately 
dispach  an  express  to  Hamboon — informing  him  that  he 
should  pursue  them  as  their  object  probably  was  to  ravage  the 

country &  recommending  not  to  attack  the  Sciotans  until 

further  information  from  him.— Hanocks  de vision  were  not 
discovered  by  Ulipoon — &  of  consequence  he  proceeded  in  his 
march  without  suspecting  any  anoiance  from  the  Enimy, 
happy  in  the  reflection  that  he  had  greatly  enriched  himself 
by  a  prodigious  mass  of  plunder,  &  not  in  the  least  troubled 
about  his  fellow  warriors,  whom  he  had  deserted  on  the  eve  of 
a  most  hazardous  engagement. — Hanock  pursued  him,  but 


104 

was  careful  not  be  discovered — When  the  sun  was  nearly 
down  Ulipoon  halted  &  encamped.  — During  the  Night  Hanock 
made  his  arangements — he  formed  his  men  into  four  Divisions 
&  surrounded  the  Enimy.  Their  orders  were  as  soon  as  the 
morning  light  began  to  appear,  to  rush  into  Ulipoon's  en- 
campment &  to  massecre  his  warriors  without  discremination. 

—The  fatal  moment  had  arived,  &  punctual  at  the  very 
instant  of  time  the  attack  was  began  on  every  part.  &  such 
was  the  surprise  &  terror  which  it  produced  that  the  Sciotans 
were  thrown  into  the  utmost  confusion — &  it  was  impossible 
for  their  officers  to  form  them  into  any  order  to  make  defence 

—Every  man  at  last  attempted  to  make  his  escape — but  wher- 
ever they  rushed  forward  in  any  direction  they  met  the  deadly 
spears  of  the  Kentucks — It  is  impossible  to  discribe  the  horror 
of  the  bloody  scene  \_&  even  humanity  recoils  at  beholding] 
Humanity — sympathy  &  compassion  must  drop  a  tear  at 
beholding  the  uproar  &  confusion,  the  distress  &  anguish,  the 
blood  &  carnage  of  so  many  thousand  brave  warriors  [who 
was  great  misfortune  was  to  have  a  coward  for  their  commander] — 
who  were  reduced  to  their  dreadful  situation  by  the  cowardise 
[<fc  nigardly]  &  avaricious  disposition  of  their  Commander. 
But  only  three  thousand  made  their  escape.  As  for  Ulipoon 
he  was  mortally  wounded  &  laid  prostrate  on  the  field — After 
the  slaughter  was  ended  in  passing  over  the  [field  of]  the 
slain,  Hanock  beheld  the  illfated  prince— an  object  truely 
pitiable  to  behold — In  the  agonies  of  death  &  wreathing  under 
the  most  acute  pain,  he  exclaimed.  Alas  my  wretched  situ- 
ation— It  was  avarice,  cursed  avarice  which  induced  me  to 
engage  in  this  horrid  war — &  now  [my]  the  mischief  and 
cruelties  intended  as  the  means  to  acquire  wealth  &  agrandize- 
merit,  are  justly  turned  upon  my  own  head — He  spoke  & 
deeply  groaning,  he  breathed  no  more  The  galant  Hanock 
droped  a  tear — &  feeling  no  enmity  towards  the  lifeless 
remains  of  those,  who  had  been  his  enimies,  he  ordered  three 
hundred  men  to  [bury]  remain  on  the  ground  &  commit  their 


105 

bodies  to  the  Dust — This  says  he  is  the  will  of  him  whose 
compassion  is  infinite.  He  then  directed  Como  his  chief 
Captain  to  pursue  the  survivors  of  Ulipoon's  army  &  to  des- 
troy them  if  possible. — With  the  remainder  of  his  troops,  he 
returned,  back  to  carry  into  effect  the  order  of  Hamboon. 
Como  overtook  &  killed  about  a  thousand  of  the  wretched 
fugitives— the  remainder  escaped  to  their  own  land, — except 
about  fifty  who  fled  to  the  army  of  Rambock — &  gave  him 
'  the  dreadful  inteligence  of  Ulipoon's  distruction. — 

Great  were  the  amazement  &  consternation  of  Rambock 
&  his  whole  army.  They  now  beheld  their  situation  to  be 
extremely  critical  &  dangerous  &  saw  the  necessity  of  the 
most  vigorous  &  heroic  exertions.  What  says  Rambock  to 
his  princes,  is  our  wisest  course  to  pursue?  Sabamah,  Ran- 
coff  &  Nunapon  advised  him  to  retreat  without  losing  a 
moment,  for  say  they,  we  have  taken  ample  revenge  for  the 
crime  Elseon. — To  effect  this  we  have  thrown  ourselves  into 
the  heart  of  their  country — have  lost  a  large  division  of  our 
army— &  are  so  weakened  by  our  losses  that  we  are  in  the 
utmost  danger  of  being  defeated  &  even  anihilated. — It  must 
therefore  be  the  height  of  folly  &  madness  to  prossecute  the 
war  any  farther  in  this  country. — But  Sambal  &  the  other 
princes  condemned  this  plan  as  pusilanimous  &  disgraceful 
&  proposed  to  steal  a  march  on  the  Kentucks  &  to  storm  their 
fort  before  they  should  be  apprised  of  their  designs. — This 
last  advice  met  the  approbation  of  the  Emperor.  Nothing 
says  he  can  save  our  army  from  destruction  but  the  most 
daring  atcheivments.  That  they  might  gain  the  fort  without 
being  perceived  by  the  Kentucks.  It  was  necessary  that  they 
should  march  some  distance  in  the  direction,  where  Hanock 
had  emcamped,  in  order  to  cooperate  with  Hamboon,  when 
he  should  commence  the  engagement — When  the  night  had 
far  advanced  Rambock's  forces  were  all  in  readiness  &  began 
their  march  for  the  fort.  They  proceeded  about  two  miles — & 
a  small  party  in  advance,  discovered  Hanocks  warriors — This 


106  THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND." 

discovery  produced  an  alteration  in  Rambock's  plan — He 
directed  Sambal  to  proceed  against  the  fort — whilst  he,  as  soon 
as  the  light  should  appear,  would  attack  Hanock— Sambal 
was  highly  pleased  with  this  command — as  a  victory  would 
ensure  him,  the  capture  of  Lamesa — &  afford  him  an  oppor- 
tunity to  obtain  revenge.  He  arived  at  the  fort  just  as  the 
blushing  morn  began  to  appear. — [Great  indeed  was  the  sur- 
prize which  his  arrival  produced]— On  three  sides  he  stationed 
small  parties  who  were  ordered  to  massacre  all  the  citizens 
who  should  attempt  to  make  their  escape — With  the  main 
body  of  his  army  he  made  an  assault  upon  the  fort. — Amaze- 
ment &  terror  seized  the  minds  of  the  whole  multitude  of 
citizens ;  [in  the  fort  This  enterprize  of  the  Sciotans  was  unex- 
pected— as  they  were]  were  unprepared  to  defend  the  fort  against 
such  a  formidable  force.  Lamock  however  placed  himself  at 
the  head  of  about  one  thousand  warriors  &  attempted  to  beat 
them  back  from  the  walls  &  prevent  their  making  a  breach. 
But  it  was  imposible  with  his  small  band  to  withstand  the 
strength  of  such  a  mighty  army — They  broke  down  part  of 
the  palasadoes  &  entered  the  fort  thro'  the  break — &  imme- 
diately began  the  massacre  of  the  defenceless  multitude  without 
regard  to  age  or  sex — Sambal  being  anxious  to  find  Lamesa 
rushed  forward  with  a  small  band  &  surrounded  a  [small'] 
block  house — He  then  broke  down  the  door  &  entered — Here 
he  beheld  all  the  Ladies  of  the  imperial  family  &  many  other 
Ladies  of  distinction — He  instantly  sprang  towards  Lamesa 
in  order  to  seize  her — but  was  prevented  by  Heliza  who  steped 
between  them  &  falling  upon  her  knees  implored  him  to  spare 
the  life  of  Lamesa — Scarce  had  she  spoken  when  the  cruel 
monster  buried  his  sword  in  her  bosom  &  she  fell  lifeless 
before  the  eyes  of  her  dearest  friend — Lamesa  gave  a  scream, 
&  looking  fiercely  on  Sambal  she  exclaimed.  Thou  monster 
of  vilany  &  cruelty,  could  nothing  saciate  your  revenge  but 
the  death  of  my  dear  friend,— the  amiable,  the  innocent 
Heliza  Here  is  my  heart— I  am  prepared  for  your  next  vie- 


107 

tim.  Ah  no,  says  Sambal,  your  life  is  safe  from  my  sword. 
I  shall  conduct  you  to  my  palace  &  you  shall  be  honored  with 
me  for  your  partner.  Insult  me  not,  says  she,  thou  malicious 
bloody  villain — either  kill  me  or  be  gone  from  my  sight— my 
eyes  can  never  indure  the  man  who  is  guilty  of  such  monstrous 
crimes. — Set  your  heart  at  rest  says  he  my  dear  Lamesa — I 
will  convince  you  that  I  am  a  better  man  than  your  beloved 
Elseon — his  head  shall  soon  saciate  my  revenge  &  then  you 
shall  be  the  Queen  of  Sciota. — At  this  Instant  a  loud  voice 
was  heard — The  Kentucks  are  marching  with  a  prodigious 
army  towards  the  fort. — Sambal  turning  to  his  warriors  pres- 
ent ordered  them  to  guard  the  women  in  that  house  &  not 
permit  any  of  them  to  escape — for  says  he  I  must  go  and 
destroy  that  army  of  Kentucks.  Great  already  had  been  the 
slaughter  which  the  Sciotans  had  made  of  the  citizens  in  the 
fort — Those  who  had  attempted  to  escape  thro'  a  gate  which 
was  thrown  open  were  met  &  massacred  by  the  Sciotan  war- 
riors on  the  outside — But  their  progress  was  arested  by  the 
appearance  of  Elseon  at  the  head  of  thirty  thousand  warriors 
— They  had  inarched  with  the  greatest  speed — for  they  were 
informed  by  an  express  that  the  Sciotans  had  invested  the 
Fort.  When  Sambal  beheld  them  he  instantly  concluded  to 
draw  his  army  out  of  the  fort  &  try  a  battle  with  them  in  the 
open  field.— His  orders  were  immediately  spread  thro'  every 
part  of  the  fort  where  his  men  were  employed  in,  killing  the 
defenceless,  &  in  fighting  Hemocks  little  band  of  desperate 
heroes  [whom  Hanock  commanded}. — The  Sciotans  were  soon 
formed  &  marched  out  of  the  fort  &  paraded  in  proper  order 
for  battle. — Elseon  observing  this,  commanded  his  men  to 
halt,  &  made  his  arangements  to  rush  forward  and  commence 
the  attack — Having  brandished  his  sword  as  a  token  for 
silence  he  thus  spoke.  My  brave  warriors.  "The  glorious 
period  has  arrived  for  us  to  display  our  valor  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  our  enimies. — What  monstrous  cruelties  have  they 
perpetrated — Behold  your  City  in  ruins — listen  to  the  cries 


108 

your  murdered  friends  whose  innocent  blood  calls  for  ven- 
gence — consider  the  situation  of  those  who  are  surrounded  by 
the  walls  of  yonder  fort — How  many  thousands  are  massacred 
— &  how  many  must  share  their  fate  unless  you  fight  like 
heroes — By  our  valour  we  can  effect  their  deliverance  &  rid 
our  country  from  the  most  ferocious  band  of  murderers  that 
ever  disgraced  humanity — [Their  standard  is  that  of  the  Sciotan 
King — whose  malice  &  vengeful  disposition  have  produced  this 
horrid  war.  Urged  on  by  his  malignant  passions  he  has  \_engaged] 
undertaken  a  most  desperate  &  mad  enterprise — He  has  thrown 
himself  &  his  army  into  a  most  critical  &  dangerous  situation] — 
Fight  as  you  did  at  the  great  Battle  of  Geheno  &  your  enirnies 
will  be  prostrate  in  the  dust  &  your  names  shall  be  illustrious. 
Rush  forward  my  brave  warriors — &  let  your  motto  be  victory 
or  death.  Not  a  moment,  when  his  warriors  were  stimulated 
for  the  Combat  did  Elseon  tarry — but  marched  with  pricipi- 
tation  prepared  to  make  a  most  furious  charge.  Sambal  was 
ready  to  meet  him — &  marched  forward  with  equal  boldness 
&  celerity.  The  charge  was  tremendous.  Not  the  dashing 
against  each  other  of  two  mighty  ships,  in  a  hurricane  upon 
the  [boisterous]  ocean,  could  have  been  more  terrible.  Each 
warrior,  fearless  of  danger,  met  his  antagonist  determined  to 
destroy  his  life  or  loose  his  own  in  the  contest — The  battle 
extended  thro'  every  part  of  'both  armies — As  warriors  fell  in 
the  front  ranks,  their  places  were  supplied  from  the  rear— & 
reserved  Bands  rushing  between  the  divisions  were  met  by 
others  of  equal  strength  &  valour. — Helicon  the  intimate 
friend  of  Elseon  beheld  Sambal— who  was  encouraging  his 
warriors  to  fight  bravely,  as  no  other  alternative  remained 
for  them  but  victory  or  death. — When  Helicon  beheld  him 
his  youthful  mind  felt  the  impulse  of  ambition — he  sprang 
towards  Sambal  &  changeled  him  to  the  Combat.  Sambal 
gave  him  no  time  to  repeat  the  chalenge,  but  rushed  upon 
him,  with  more  fury  than  a  tiger  &  with  his  sword  he  struck 
Helicon's  head  from  his  body — Thus  fell  the  brave,  the 


109 

amiable  youth  whose  thirst  for  glory  impeled  him  to  attempt 
an  exploit  too  rash  &  daring — Warriors  fell  on  every  side  & 
the  field  was  covered  with  dead  &  dying  heroes — A  messenger 
ran  &  told  Elseon  of  the  fate  of  Helion  who  commanded  the 
left  wing  of  his  army  &  that  Sambal  had  broken  their  ranks 
&  was  making  indisribable  havock  of  his  warriors — What 
intelligence  could  have  been  more  shocking?  Elseon  could 
not  refrain  from  tears  for  a  moment — Ah  Helicon  says  he, 
thou  hast  been  more  dear  to  me  than  a  brother — Heaven 
demands  that  I  should  revenge  thy  cruel  death.  He  instantly 
selected  a  small  band  &  marched  with  the  utmost  speed  to  the 
left  wing  of  his  army — He  rallied  his  retreating  warriors  & 
engaged  in  the  conflict  with  tenfold  fury — Soon  he  beheld  the 
mighty  Sambal,  whose  sword  was  crimsoned  with  the  blood 
of  his  friend,  &  Sambal  cast  his  eyes  upon  him  &  as  he  beheld 
him  his  malice  instantly  inkindled  into  such  a  furious  flame, 
that  [his  reason  fled  for  a  moment'  &~\  he  raved  like  a  madman. 
— Both  heroes  sprang  towards  each  other — Their  warriors 
beheld  them  &  being  mutually  inspired  with  the  same  senti- 
ments the  respective  bands  retired  back  &  left  the  two  indig- 
nant Champions  in  the  space  between. — Ah  exclaimed  Sambal 
Robber  &  perfiduous  scoundrel,  after  seducing  the  Emperor 
daughter  who  was  my  wife  &  transporting  her  from  our 
dominions,  have  you  the  temerity  to  meet  my  conquering 
sword.  This  sword  which  has  pierced  Labano.  &  cut  off  the 
head  of  Helicon  &  which  has  destroyed  hundreds  more  mighty 
than  yourself — shall  be  plunged  into  your  cowardly  heart — & 
your  head  shall  be  carried  in  triumph  into  the  city  of  Talanga 
— &  there  it  shall  be  preserved  as  a  trophy  of  my  superior 

strength  &  valour.  i  „. wa 

Vain  Boaster — says  Elseon — I  rejoice  to  meet  you.  The 
Benevolent  Being  will  now  terminate  your  carere  of  bloody 
crimes — This  sword  shall  pierce  your  malignant  heart  &  cut 
of  that  head,  which  has  ploted  the  ruin  of  my  country — 
.Sambal  eager  for  revenge,  could  hear  no  more.  He  sprang 


110  THE 

forward  &  aimed  a  thrust  of  his  sword  at  Elseon's  Heart  but 
Iseon  turned  the  point  of  his  sword  from  him  with  his  own 
— &  then  darted  his  sword  into  his  left  arm  which  caused  the 
blood  to  gush  forth— Sambal  was  now  more  indignant  than 
ever — &  raising  his  sword  he  threw  his  whole  strength  into 
one  mighty  effort,  with  an  intention  to  divide  his  body  in 
twain.  But  Elseon,  quick  as  the  Lightning  sprang  back  & 
Sambals  sword  struck  the  ground  with  a  prodigious  force 
which  broke  in  the  middle — He  himself  had  nearly  tumbled 
his  whole  length — but  recovering  &  beholding  his  defenceless 
situation,  he  ran  a  small  distance,  &  seizing  a  stone  sufficiently 
big  for  a  common  man  to  lift  he  threw  it  at  Elseon — It  flew 
with  great  velocity  &  had  not  Elseon  bowed  his  head  his 
brains  must  have  quited  their  habitation — his  Cap  however 
was  not  so  fortunate;  haveng  met  the  stone  as  he  bowed  it 
was  carried  some  distance  from  him  &  lodged  on  the  ground. 
Elseon  regardless  of  his  cap,  ran  swiftly  upon  Sambal,  whose 
feet  having  sliped  when  he  threw  the  stone  had  fallen  upon 
his  back  &  had  not  recovered — Terror  now  seized  his  mind — 
Spare,  0  spare  my  life  says  he  &  I  will  restore  peace  to  Ken- 
tuck  &  you  may  enjoy  Lamesa. — No  peace  sais  Elseon  do 
I  desire  with  a  man,  whose  sword  is  red  with  the  blood  of 
my  friends  He  spoke  &  plunged  his  sword  into  Sambals 
heart.— 

The  Sciotans  beheld  the  heage  body  of  their  King  pale  & 
lifeless — Consternation  &  terror  seized  their  minds  They  fled 
in  dismay  &  confusion — Elseon  pursued  them  with  his  war- 
riors &  overthrew  &  killed  thousands  in  the  pursuit — About 
two  thousand  made  good  their  escape — &  carried  the  doleful 
tidings  of  Sambals  death  &  the  emence  slaughter  of  his  army 
to  their  own  Land.  And  indeed  their  escape  was  owing  to 
the  great  anxiety  of  Elseon  &  his  warriors  to  visit  their  friends 
in  the  fort  &  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  massacre  that  Sam- 
bal &  his  army  had  made. — After  pursuing  the  Sciotans  about 
six  miles  Elseon  &  his  army  returned  in  great  haste  &  entered 


Ill 

the  fort. — Great,  inexpressably  great  was  the  joy  of  the  Citizens 
when  they  beheld  them  returning  with  the  laurels  of  victory 
&  when  they  were  informed  of  the  destruction  of  so  many 
thousand  of  their  enimies. — But  as  great  was  their  grief  & 
lamentation,  when  they  beheld  &  reflected  on  the  vast  num- 
ber of  citizens  &  of  Elseon's  warriors,  who  had  fallen  by  the 
sword  of  the  Sciotans.      No  death  produced  such  universal 
regret  &  sorrow  as  those  of  Helicon  &  Heliza.     The  one  was 
the  intimate  friend  of  Elseon  &  the  other  of  Lamesa. — They 
both  possessed  hearts  which  were  formed  for  the  most  ardent 
friendship  &   love. — Their   acquaintance  produced  the  most 
sincere  attachment — They  exchanged  vows  of  perpetual  fidelity 
&  love  to  each  other — &  only  waited  for  the  termination  of  the 
war  to  fulfil  their  mutual  engagement  to  unite  their  hands  in 
wedlock — But  this  pleasant  anticipation  of  conjugal  felicity 
was  destroyed  by  the  cruel  sword  of  Sambal — Naught  availed 
the  innocence  &  the  amiable  accomplishments   of  the  fair 
Heliza?     She  must  fall  a  victim  to  saciate  the  revenge  of  a 
barbarous  Tyrant — Had  Helicon  known  when  he  attacked  the 
savage  monster  that  he  had  assassinated  his  beloved  Heliza, 
it  would  have  inspired  him  with  the  most  ardent  desire  for 
revenge  &  added  vigor  to  his  arm  &  keeness  to  his  sword.— 
[Ah  said]  A  Kentucky  Bard  represented  the  erial  form  of 
Heliza  as  ariving  on  the  celestial  plain — &  being  told  that  she 
must  wait  a  short  time — &  Helicon  would  ascend  to  conduct 
her  as  his  partner  to  a  delightful  Bower  which  was  surrounded 
by  the -most  beautiful  flowers  &  delicious  fruits — &  where  the 
singing  of  musical  birds  would  charm  them  with  their  melody. 
—When  Elseon  had  entered  the  fort,  he  found  that  Lamock 
with  the  survivors  of  his  little  band  of  warriors  had  made 
prisoners,  of  the  Sciotans  whom  Sambal  had  left  to  guard  the 
imperial  Ladies — &  that  these  Sciotans  had  done  them  no 
injury  nor  even  insulted  them  with  words — Says  Elseon  for 
this   honourable  treatment  of  my  friends  I  will  shew  these 
enimies  compassion — Go  says  he  to  them,  return  in  peace  to 


112 

your  own  land — &  tell  your  friends  that  Elseon  will  not  hurt 
an  Emmy,  who  has  done  him  a  favour. 

The  time  of  Elseon  was  precious — He  spent  but  a  few 
moments  with  Lamesa,  in  which  they  exchanged  mutual  con- 
gratulations— &  expressions  of  the  most  tender  &  sincere 
affection. — She  conjured  him  to  spare  the  life  of  her  father  & 
brother  &  not  to  expose  his  own  life  any  farther  than  his 
honour  &  the  interest  of  his  country  required.  I  shall  cheer- 
fully says  he  comply  with  every  request,  which  will  promote 
your  happiness.  He  embraced  her  &  bid  her  adue. — 

As  the  situation  of  Hamboon's  army  might  require  his 
immediate  return,  he  lost  no  time  to  regulate  matters  in  the 
fort — but  leaving  five  thousand  men  to  bury  the  dead,  & 
defend  the  citizens,  he  marched  with  the  remainder,  which 
consisted  of  about  twenty  thousand,  towards  Hamboons 
encampment. — 

When  Sambal  marched  with  his  division  against  the  fort 
it  was  Rambock's  intention  to  have  attacked  Hanock  the  next 
morning — but  perceiving  that  Hamboon  had  been  apprised 
of  his  movement,  &  was  then  within  a  small  distance  ready  to 
co  operate  with  Hanocks  division,  Rambock  altered  his  plan 
&  determined  to  wait  for  the  return  of  Sambal.  As  for  Ham- 
boon  he  concluded  to  wait  until  Elseon's  return. — These  deter- 
minations of  the  hostile  Emperors,  prevented,  in  this  intervail 
of  time,  any  engagement  between  the  two  grand  armies. — But 
when  the  fate  of  Sambal's  division  was  decided— &  Elseon 
had  returned  with  the  joyful  news  of  his  victory,  the  Kentucks 
were  all  anxious  for  an  immediate  Battle. 


The  end  of  Solomon's  Manuscript.    Copied  by  L.  L.  Rice,  1884  and 
1885. 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND.  113 


The  Writings  of  Sollomon  Spalding 

Proved  by  Aron  Wright  Oliver  Smith  John  Miller  and 
ethers 

The  testimonies  of  the  above  Gentlemen  are  now  in  my 
possession 

D     P    HURLBUT 


114 

Annexed  to  the  foregoing  are  three  pages  of  manuscript,  in  the  same 
hand  writing,  apparently  unconnected,  and  expressing  the  writer's  senti- 
ments as  to  revealed  religion.  The  following  is  a  literal  copy: 

But  having  evry  reason  to  place  the  highest  confidence  in 
your  friendship  &  prudence  I  have  no  reluctance  in  comply- 
ing with  your  request  in  giving  you  my  sentiments  of  the 
Christian  Religion —&  so  far  from  considering  the  freedom 
you  took  in  making  the  request,  impertinence,  I  view  it  as  a 
mark  of  your  [high  esteem  for  me]  affectionate  solicitude  for 
my  happiness.  In  giving  you  my  sentiments  of  the  Christian 
religion  you  will  perceive  [that  I  am  not  tramelled  with  tradi- 
tionary &  vulgar  prejudice]  That  I  do  not  believe  certain  facts 
[_&  certain  facts]  &  certain  propositions  to  be  true  merely 
because  that  my  ancestors  believed  them — &  because  they  are 
popular. — In  forming  my  creed  I  bring  everything  to  the 
standard  of  reason — [that  intellectua]  This  is  an  uerring  & 
sure  guide  in  all  matters  of  faith  &  practice.  Having  divested 
myself  therefore  of  traditionary  &  vulgar  prejudice  &  sub- 
miting  to  the  guidance  of  reason  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
have  the  same  sentiments  of  the  Christian  religion  which  its 
advocates  consider  as  orthodoxy — It  is  in  my  view  a  mass  of 
contradictions  &  an  heterrogeneous  mixture  of  wisdom  &  folly 
—nor  can  I  find  any  clear  &  incontrovertable  evidence  of  its 
being  a  revelation  from  an  infinite  benevolent  &  wise  God. 
It  is  true  that  I  never  have  had  the  leisure  nor  patience  to 
read  [the  elaborate  &  learned  productions  of  divines  in  its  vindica- 
tion] evry  part  of  it  with  very  critical  attention  or  to  study 
the  metaphissical  jargon  of  divines  in  its  vindication — It  is 
enough  for  me  to  know  that  propositions  which  are  in  contra- 
diction to  each  other  cannot  both  be  true  &  that  doctrines  & 
facts  which  represent  the  Supreme  Being  as  a  barbarous  &  cruel 
tyrant  can  never  be  dictated  by  infinite  wisdom.  Whatever 
the  clergy  say  to  the  contrary  can  have  no  effect  in  altering 
my  sentiments. — I  know  as  well  as  they  that  two  &  two  make 
four  &  that  three  angles  of  a  triangle  are  equal  to  two  right 


THE  "MANUSCRIPT  FOUND."  115 

ones. — But  notwithstanding  I  disavow  any  belief  in  the  divin- 
ity of  the  Bible  &  consider  it  a  mere  human  production 
designed  to  enrich  &  agrandize  its  authors  &  to  enable  them 
to  manage  the  multitude — yet  casting  aside  a  considerable 
mass  of  rubbish  &  fanatical  rant,  I  find  that  it  contains  a 
system  of  ethicks  or  morals  which  cannot  be  excelled  on 
account  of  their  tendency  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  man, 
&  to  promote  individual  social  &  public  happiness,  &  that  in 
various  instances  it  represents  the  Almighty  as  possessing 
attributes  worthy  his  trancendent  character.  Having  a  view 
therefore  to  those  parts  of  the  Bible  which  are  truly  good  & 
excellent  I  sometimes  speak  of  it  in  terms  of  high  commenda- 
tion--^ indeed  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  notwithstanding 
the  mischiefs  &  miseries  which  have  been  produced  by  the 
bigoted  zeal  of  fanaticks  &  interested  priests  yet  that  such 
evils  are  more  than  counterbalanced  in  a  Christian  land,  by 
the  benefits  which  result  to  the  great  mass  of  the  people  by 
their  believing  that  the  bible  is  of  divine  origin  &  that  it  con- 
tains a  revelation  from  God. — Such  being  my  view  of  the 
subject  I  suffer  my  candle  to  remain  under  to  remain  under, 
nor  make  no  exertions  to  dissipate  their  happy  delusions. 
As 


5      OS  9  9 


